The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) today announced a £20.6 million funding package for the region’s tourism industry, which will ensure that the region’s five sub-regional tourist boards are in a strong position to support tourism businesses during the current economic climate.
The funding has been allocated to Cumbria Tourism, the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, Marketing Manchester, the Mersey Partnership and Visit Chester and Cheshire and will enable each tourist board to maintain the lead in developing and promoting the visitor economy in their area.
Each tourist board will work to support opportunities for growth in the visitor economy and to create high-quality, high-value visitor experiences. This support includes investment in training programmes, improving visitor information, more product development (we assume for growing number of souvenirs sold in Tourist Information Centres) and more marketing activity, all with the aim of helping ensure that the region’s tourism industry is well placed to face ongoing economic challenges.
“The current economic climate will inevitably have an impact on the tourism industry, which is why it is now more important than ever for us to continue to invest in the region’s tourism offer,” commented James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the NWDA. “The NWDA is committed to supporting the region’s visitor economy and this investment will ensure a strong climate of support for tourism during these challenging times.
“If we continue to invest in infrastructure, training, marketing our unique offer and, above all, maintain a quality, value-for-money visitor experience, the Northwest can continue to develop its competitive advantage and capitalise on the increasing trend to holiday at home.”