VisitBritain has strong links and works in partnership with key public diplomacy partners.  The Public Diplomacy Partners Group (PDPG) was created in 2006 in line with Lord Carter's Review of Public Diplomacy. The PDPG is chaired by VisitBritain and brings together a wide group of organisations including among others the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Council, BBC World Service, and Scottish and Welsh Governments.  The Group gives advice to the Public Diplomacy Board which is chaired by Jim Murphy, Minister of State and develops specific initatives on its behalf.   

The Public Diplomacy Partners Group provided a platform for the Welcome to Britain initiative which is being developed to improve the standard of welcome that visitors receive before, during and after their stay in Britain.  This is particularly important in the run up to major events such as the 2012 Ryder Cup in Wales, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow when we will welcome thousands of new visitors and showcase Britain to millions of potential visitors across the world.  

The Welcome to Britain Group was created in 2007 bringing together representatives from transport, travel, hospitality, border processes and public diplomacy organisations whose activities impact on the quality of welcome to visitors in Britain.  The initiative focuses on issues that affect both the reality and the perception of welcome in Britain. The Public Diplomacy Partners Group and Welcome to Britain Group meet quarterly.