I don't know the ins and outs of airline fare structures, so I don't know how this issue can be solved. My thesis is simply that if you have a problem, however difficult it may be, it is going to sit there forever and remain a problem if nothing is done.
If your car won't start, leaving it at home and catching buses to go to work each day isn't solving the problem. The car is still sitting there.
In this particular case, most people seem to be agreed that high airfares are a major (perhaps the major) barrier to future tourism growth.
All I have done is ask myself "whose responsibility is this?"
Clearly we have to look to our trade association (BTIA) and to the government department who looks after tourism (BTB). Nothing contentious there.
What I object to is futile attempts to improve tourism by (eg) encouraging South American tourists, cruise ship tourists, etc. this is IMHO just re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
No the problem is not an easy one. Like Phil I don't know the answer, but one thing I do know is that this will continue to be an issue until it is resolved.