Design a postcard and win a family weekend at LEGOLAND or Alton Towers! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

With half term just behind us, you may have recently been thinking a little more about holidays. A little while ago a consortium of tourism folks* ran a survey with MNers to see what they thought of the Cut Tourism VAT campaign. Yes, we know, it’s not a sexy topic, but stick with us, it gets better.

Here’s what the consortium say, “MNers got engaged when it was revealed that the UK rate of VAT, at 20%, is double the average European rate for accommodation and a third more than the rate for attractions. 87% of those surveyed said that UK rates of VAT on accommodation and attractions should fall in with European averages.

“A VAT cut to 5 per cent on attractions and accommodation would make British holidays and attractions cheaper and the UK more competitive as a destination. And even more importantly, it should also create more than 120,000 new jobs and boost income for the Exchequer by £3.9 billion over 10 years.

“At the moment the campaign has cross party support of just over 100 MPs, so the survey also asked did MNers think this was something their MP should back.

“The results suggested this was something Mumsnetters cared about with:

• 62% of Mumsnetters saying that they would support the campaign
• Of those who knew that their MP hadn’t backed the campaign, 47% said that they were unhappy about this”

How you can help the campaign

Currently over 100 MPs are backing the campaign. The consortium behind the campaign * now want Mumsnetters to get creative and help them design a postcard that can be sent to all MPs to encourage more of them to back the Cut Tourism VAT campaign. Attached to this thread is their first attempt at a postcard design, but we think you could come up with something better.

So, if you are feeling super creative you can actually create your own postcard and upload a pic for the campaign to use onto this thread. But, if like us you’re not sure your creative powers stretch that far, please feel free to just add a slogan and a pic idea and we can do the rest.

The good news is that everyone who takes part and either posts a pic or adds their ideas will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a free overnight stay for four at either LEGOLAND or Alton Towers plus park tickets. Plus if your design is chosen and used by the consortium to send to MPs you’ll also be given a family overnight stay for four at either LEGOLAND or Alton Towers plus park tickets.

Thanks and Good Luck!

MNHQ

• consortium includes the British Hospitality Association, Merlin Entertainments plc and Bourne Leisure. Merlin Entertainments plc owns LEGOLAND, Alton Towers, The London Eye, Madame Tussauds and Thorpe Park amongst other things. Bourne Leisure own Butlins and Haven Holidays and other leisure businesses.

PS. The consortium behind Cut Tourism VAT campaign may use any designs posted on this thread in regional and national press, as well as designs to be printed to send to MPs, so please only post if you’re happy with this.

Taxing is no fun but I'd rather we taxi around for some fun.

Picture of a toddler on a makeshift bucket while sibling pulls it along on the sand.

Sorry about the rubbish drawing...In hindsight I think I would have LET'S TIP THE SCALES IN THE OTHER DIRECTION in bold jazzy lettering, and if it isn't obvious enough in a well-drawn picture then have the other wording less bold (and not have the other wording at all if it is clear).

Cut holiday tax and keep me smiling longer

CUT TOURISM TAX SO WE CAN HAVE A JOLLY HOLLY-DAY

Here is my idea, i'm not creative at all so will just suggest a slogan and pic idea instead:

A beautiful photo of an empty UK beach resort with

'CUT LUXURY TAX ON TOURISM!'

Simple and effective, I think :)

something along the lines off an empty seaside photo board - 'Something missing from your holiday snaps? Cut tourism tax and make holidays more affordable'

Picture of a couple of seaside donkeys with no riders talking to each other saying, 'we'll have to move to Turkey next year if this carries on.'

Then a slogan saying, 'Cut tourism tax and keep the donkeys in business.'

Here is mine :)

the postcard could show a child's drawing with the slogan :)

Maybe a popular uk tourist destination as a ghost town to show the effects of high tourism tax.

Who needs to go aboard when we have this in Blackpool. Keep traditions going, cut tax so we can have fun in the UK sun !

as my art skills leave a lot to be desired, I think i need to write an explanation to accompany my attached postcard drawing...

two ice-creams next to each other. One with just the flake missing, to represent only a 5% tax. Most people can live without a flake in their holiday ice cream (to represent that 5% tax on holidays is acceptable). The second ice cream has only the cone and the whole of the ice cream missing representing 20% tax. i.e. not acceptable as it ruins the whole ice-cream (representing holiday).

I'm not sure how clearly the captions show in the image. First ice cream words say: 'This is what my ice cream looks like with 5% holiday tax. I can live without my flake'.

second icecream: 'This is what my ice cream looks like with 20% holiday tax - it kinda spoils my holiday!'

An image of a traditional Punch and Judy booth, with Mr Punch wielding his stick with a speech bubble saying

"Tax the way to do it!"

Art isn't my best subject, but I was thinking along the lines of VAT in the corner, with a pair of scissors going through and then cutting it.

After that I think a positive image of an iconic and packed British beach -something that shows MP's how much people love beaches in this country, and how full they could be again if only they cut VAT in this way.

Thanks to everyone who's posted their creative ideas on this thread. The consortium has chosen gnomebulb2 as the winner for their favourite idea. They have created a postcard using your slogan (see picture 1)!
Congratulations as well to rominycolville who has won the prize draw! The consortium have also created your design (see picture 2)!
You've both won a family overnight stay for four at either LEGOLAND or Alton Towers plus park tickets we'll be in touch soon.

Well done winners! MN please can we have another competition, as I really really want to go to Alton Towers waterpark