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Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has called for a greater strategy to help drive tourism in the North, ahead of the Northern Futures summit taking place on November 6 in Leeds.
Clegg is making £10m of Regional Growth Funding available to help back proposals for a clear tourism strategy in the north of England.
It is hoped that the funding will bring together the 29 individual tourism boards in the north and help develop a coordinated strategy to increase tourism in the area.
Clegg said: “It’s absurd that our great north is missing out on visitors when it boasts such stunning countryside, history and culture. Through the Northern Futures project, I asked people what our northern cities needed in order to compete globally, and to grow.
“Your resounding call is clear – a strong northern future relies on putting the north back on the map, a top tourist destination. From next year, there will be a clear strategy for tourism in the north, bringing harmony to the current offer from 29 individual tourism boards into one great offer.”
James Berresford, VisitEngland’s chief executive welcomed the funding. He said: “We welcome this additional £10m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) for the development of a new strategy for tourism in the North. This commitment from Government clearly demonstrates that tourism is being increasingly recognised as a key driver of the economy which creates important jobs throughout the country.
“We will be working closely with our sponsor department DCMS [Department for culture, Media & Sport], our local partners and the private sector to devise and implement the strategy to launch next year.”
Image courtesy of VisitEngland/VisitNorthumberland
