A tourism agency has told workers they can no longer use words like “blind spot” or “man hours” because the language is not inclusive.
Instead of working hours, travel agency VisitBritain asked businesses hosting overseas guests to say “working hours” so as not to offend anyone.
According to its 50-page language guide, the word blacklist should be replaced by “denial list” and blind spot by “missed opportunity.”
The company handed out an inclusive 18-point term sheet to foster a “culture of belonging,” but has been criticized for being “out of touch,” according to Sun.
VisitBritain, which is funded by the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, also warned against using the term “guru” as it is said to have been appropriated from Hindu culture.
Instead, the £54m-a-year taxpayer-funded agency was told to use the term “expert”.
Tourism agency VisitBritain published a 50-page guide on what to say and what not to say for members
Sir John Hayes CBE (left), chair of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs which focuses on “genuine conservatism”, criticized the document as being “out of touch”.
Last year, VisitBritain published an “accessible and inclusive” toolkit for those working in the tourism business.
In the 2023 information packet, the “inclusive language” section encouraged using positive language when asking about disabilities.
He warned people against using negative language such as “suffers”, “is a victim of”, “disabled”, “invalid”, “crippled by” or “in a wheelchair”.
But the new guide goes a step further and offers business partners a list of words they can and cannot say.
To avoid offending people with disabilities, the word “dumb” should not be used in a derogatory manner; the agency suggests “unattractive” or “cheesy” as an alternative.
Instead of using “sanity check”, VisitBritain advised saying “confidence check” and, instead of saying “man”, telling people to “be brave”.
Similarly, he advises workers to say “everyone” or “team” instead of using the term “guys” to describe a group, even though it is commonly used comprehensively for all genders.
The inclusion sheet was sent to agency partners to “help shape the future” of organized events.
The same information package tells event organizers to cater for those who don’t drink alcohol and to set up “low sensory” rooms, according to The Sun.
He tells members that: “Words and phrases used for generations are no longer acceptable.”
But Sir John Hayes CBE, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs who focus on “genuine conservatism”, heavily criticized the document.
He told The Sun that those who made the opt-in sheet are “out of touch” and should be “backlisted and excluded”, using one of the words VisitBritain asked its business partners to avoid.
The travel agency’s role is to grow Britain’s visitor economy and encourage tourists to explore the country.
It also advises the Government on tourism, providing research and insight into the industry.
Penny Mordaunt MP told Whitehall bosses to stop using woke language in official documents
A VisitBritain spokesperson told the newspaper that the guide was developed with “input from our business events industry partners”.
The move comes a month after MP Penny Mordaunt told Whitehall bosses to stop using woke language in official documents.
In a letter to permanent secretaries, the Commons leader said statutory bodies should avoid using “gender-neutral language” in contexts where traditional words such as mother and father would be more accurate.
House of Commons officials had just published new guidance on drafting legislation, which says gender-neutral language should not be used when drafting laws in areas that “relate solely or principally to persons of one sex.” “, such as pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. .
In his letter to Whitehall bosses, a copy of which has been seen by the Mail, Mordaunt said the same rules should apply to all official documents, including those produced by Whitehall departments and independent bodies such as Ofsted, the Office for National Statistics. and the Environment Agency.
Mordaunt said the “enormous progress” made on gender equality means it is right to avoid using language that assumes only a man or woman can play a particular role.
But he added: “However, there are many contexts in which a person’s biological sex is very relevant and, in these circumstances, gender-neutral language should be avoided.”
It noted that the guidance “states that, for example, in the context of pregnancy or women’s health, departments should avoid replacing a term such as ‘woman’ with gender-neutral terms such as ‘person’.”
In contexts like these, gender-specific language should take priority.” One ally said he was “basically telling them not to be so awake.”
Mordaunt’s intervention came following growing complaints from Conservative MPs about the use of “wake” language by public bodies.
Sir John has also called for action to tackle “pernicious political correctness” in public life.
The chair of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPs has criticized the Environment Agency for removing terms such as “mother” and “father” from its documents.
‘It seems silly, but in reality it is much more sinister. “Freedom of expression is at stake,” he previously stated.
MailOnline has contacted VisitBritain for further comment.
