Leaders from the private sector have joined forces to lobby the UK government to take British tourism “more seriously”, following last week’s call by industry bodies VisitBritain  and UKinbound.The coalition includes Merlin Entertainments, owner of Alton Towers and the London Eye, Butlins, Hoseasons, Bourne Leisure and Travelodge. The lobby is demanding the responsiblilty for tourism be passed to the business department as it is treated as a “poor relation” in its current home.