Stuart Anderson celebrates Shropshire’s visitor economy on English Tourism Week
Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservatives Parliamentary Candidate, has pledged to support Shropshire’s rural visitor economy as part of English Tourism Week, which is running from 15-24 March. It is an annual celebration of the tourism sector, which contributes £5.6 billion to the West Midlands economy. Stuart said that he wants to deliver a growing, dynamic, and sustainable tourism sector in Shropshire to unlock rural prosperity. He is encouraging families to find out about the free and affordable events happening across the county, from free exhibitions to local markets and fun family activities at local libraries - as well as shops and bars.
The campaign is delivered by VisitEngland and this year’s theme is ‘Supporting tourism – the heart of our communities’, recognising the local visitor economy’s significant economic, cultural and social impact across every region, adding to the vibrancy of local communities. Stuart is raising awareness about schemes such as the National Lottery ‘Days Out’ campaign help to boost tourism across the UK, including in Shropshire. It offers people the chance to redeem a lottery ticket for a £25 voucher to be used in a variety of quality destinations, visitor attractions, and experiences on offer through the scheme.
English Tourism generates over £100 billion a year and supports 2.6 million jobs. It touches everyone: visitors, residents, businesses and destinations. It is one of the few sectors active in every part of the country. It is also an incubator for budding entrepreneurs and innovators. To help businesses better understand the government support available, Stuart is promoting his business support webpage. This signposts a range of grants, tax reliefs and competitions that they may be eligible to apply for in this sector. The aim is to help them start and grow a business, with 2024 being the year of the SME.
Stuart Anderson said: “English Tourism Week is an ideal opportunity to showcase all that Shropshire can offer to visitors, from free exhibitions to local markets and fun family activities at local libraries - as well as shops and bars. Our world-class offer for visitors truly has something for everyone and can really help to grow our rural economy. As well as promoting the support available to businesses via my website, I am also promoting schemes like the National Lottery Days Out Scheme, which offers National Lottery Players the chance to visit attractions by claiming a £25 voucher. I would encourage everyone to check out the support available to help them make the most of English tourism.”
The Government funds the British Tourism Association, which comprises VisitEngland and VisitBritain, by around £27 million per annum, of which VisitEngland receives c. £7 million. VisitEngland helps promote the UK as a tourist destination domestically through marketing campaigns. It promotes year-round tourism experiences, encouraging a regional and seasonal variety highlighting lesser-visited areas.
