New marketing body launched for Lancashire
A NEW marketing body for Lancashire is set to be launched on April 1.
Marketing Lancashire, an organisation funded and established by Lancashire County Council, will replace the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB). Mike Wilkinson, managing director of LBTB, is to retire and will step down from his role on Friday.
The new company will work more closely with public and private sector organisations across Lancashire to promote the county as a place to visit, work and invest.
County councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, said: “Marketing Lancashire is a crucial part of our plans to boost Lancashire’s economy.
“For any economy to succeed, businesses must be given the right type of support to allow them to bring in investment and jobs to an area – that’s what we aim to do with Marketing Lancashire.
He added that the organisation will promote a number of major events in 2012, including the Preston Guild, the Open golf championship at Lytham, and a series of events marking the 400th anniversary of the Pendle witch trials.
The county council’s lead member for tourism, Jim Lawrenson, praised Mr Wilkinson for his work in promoting the county.
“One of those initiatives was to bring district and unitary councils closer together to ensure we all work in partnership to support this £3 billion industry. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to lead tourism in Lancashire.”
