Lake District tourism boost announced

Published on: 28 Jan 2016

Members of the Lake District business community meet Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss a new funding package for tourism, announced today, 28 Jan 2015, at Allan Bank, Grasmere. Businesses in Cumbria and the Lake District are today looking ahead to 2016 with renewed optimism as the Prime Minister announced a package of support to boost tourism in the region during a visit to Grasmere today (28 Jan).

Local businesses were invited to a special roundtable meeting with David Cameron at the National Trust’s Allan Bank, Grasmere, to discuss the opportunities and challenges they face in communicating to visitors that they are ‘open for business’.

The funding package includes:

  • £2m towards repairs across the Lake District National Park, including bridges, walls and footpaths. This does not include highways infrastructure repairs such as the A591.
  • £1m advertising campaign announced to encourage British families to spend their Easter holidays in the north.
  • Almost £15m funding from public and private sector to promote tourism to the north and holidays at home

Chairman of the Lake District National Park, Mike McKinley, said: “We welcome the announcement of support for the Lake District and to market Cumbria as a UK tourist destination. 

“The funding for repairs to footpaths and bridges is a commitment towards our recovery programme for the areas most affected. We will now prioritise the delivery of practical work across the national park to ensure visitors have the best possible experience.

“The Lake District has been described as ‘a jewel in the crown of the British countryside’ by Environment Secretary Liz Truss and with more than 16m visitors every year, it is also a fundamental part of the local economy. So it is vital that we support businesses and communities as they gear up to welcome visitors this year. In addition to the spectacular landscape and events such as 150 years of Beatrix Potter, the Lake District is bidding to become a World Heritage site, so there are no shortage of reasons to visit.”

Nigel Wilkinson, chairman of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Business Task Force and managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, added: “We welcome the recognition at the highest level of government of the need to act quickly to help the recovery of the Cumbria’s economy. Businesses will continue to work in partnership with national and local government to ensure rapid delivery of solutions across the Lake District and Cumbria.”

Photo shows: Members of the Lake District business community meet Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss a new funding package for tourism, announced today, 28 Jan 2015, at Allan Bank, Grasmere.

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