Cumbria’s £2bn tourist sector looks ahead

THE future direction of Cumbria’s £2bn tourism sector is being discussed today at a conference in Penrith.

Tourism is the county’s second-biggest industry and employs more than 56,000 people. It faces a number of challenges, not least the loss of a grant of £1.3m provided to Cumbria Tourism by the North West Development Agency, which is being wound down.

The summit, at the Rheged Centre, will look to address questions about the way the public and private sectors work together and the amount of money needed to ensure a strong tourism sector in Cumbria.

It will be attended by key national and county figures from the tourism industry and the public sector.

As well as the loss of the NWDA cash, Cumbria and the Lake District are also facing increased competition from other parts of the UK and abroad, so the county needs to avoid complacency if it is to remain a top destination in the future.

Speakers include Eric Robson, chairman of Cumbria Tourism, James Berresford, chief executive of Visit England and Andrew Tong from business advisers Deloitte.

Tourism bosses from Lancashire and Blackpool and the Peak District are also attending to offer an external perspective to the debate.

The boss of Windermere Lake Cruises, Nigel Wilkinson and Cumbria LEP member Stephen Broughton, managing director of the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, will also give their views along with representatives from Cumbria County Council and South Lakeland District Council.

The event will conclude with a question and answer session chaired by Mr Robson.