14 October 2008

Lake District tourism urged to offer quality and value

The Lake District tourism industry must ensure it offers good quality experiences for visitors and value for money breaks if it is to weather the world economic crisis.

Tourism supports 36,000 jobs and brings in Ã&#pound;1.1 billion into the regionÃ¢â¬â¢s economy every year.

Representatives of more than 100 local tourism businesses were warned at the annual meeting of Cumbria Tourism that times would be tough but the county was in a stronger position than many other destinations.

The message came from president Lord Inglewood, who said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe have the finest tourism product in the county of Cumbria than anywhere in the world.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœAs long as we play to our strengths and offer good quality and value for money, I do think the tourism industry can survive the current economic turbulence and will proceed positively forward.Ã¢â¬~

VisitBritain had nationally forecast a three per cent growth in overseas visitors to Britain during 2009 but this had now been revised in light of the economic situation to a zero growth forecast.

The meeting saw the launch of a new tourism strategy for Cumbria which hopes to increase the number of visits by 1.8 million over the next 10 years and bring an extra Ã&#pound;400 million into the county as it strives to become EuropeÃ¢â¬â¢s top rural destination.

by Phil Davies