Fury as ‘out of touch’ tourism agency VisitBritain BANS words including blacklist, walkthrough and blindspot
A TOURISM agency has issued a woke language guide that bans the use of the word “walkthrough” for being “non-inclusive”.
VisitBritain, which gets £54million a year from taxpayers, says “review” should be used so as not to offend disabled people.
It also says “blacklist” should be ditched in favour of “deny list”.
Other terms identified by bosses include “guru”, which is said to be appropriated from Indian Hindu culture, and should be replaced by “expert”.
The terms “minorities”, “blindspot” and “sanity check”, are also deemed off limits.
VisitBritain told firms hosting events for guests from abroad to adhere to an 18-point “inclusive” term sheet to create a “culture of belonging”.
The 50-page guidance was issued in a diversity and inclusion “framework”, sent to the body’s business partners to “help shape the future of events”.
It says: “Words and phrases used for generations are no longer acceptable.”
Other sections of the equality pack order event designers to cater for non-drinkers and set up “low sensory rooms” at venues.
VisitBritain is the UK’s national tourism agency and is funded by a £54million-a-year grant from the Department for Media, Sport and Culture.
Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said: “The people behind this document are out of touch. They should be blacklisted and blackballed.”
VisitBritain said: “The guide was developed with input from our business events industry partners.”