£20m funding package for Northwest tourism industry

THE Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) announced a £20.6 million funding package for the region’s tourism industry, which will ensure that the region’s five sub-regional tourist boards are in a strong position to support tourism businesses during the current economic climate. 

The funding has been allocated to Cumbria Tourism, the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, Marketing Manchester, the Mersey Partnership and Visit Chester and Cheshire and will enable each tourist board to maintain the lead in developing and promoting the visitor economy in their area.

Each tourist board will work to support opportunities for growth in the visitor economy and to create high-quality, high-value visitor experiences.  Investment in training programmes, visitor information, product development and marketing activity will help ensure that the region’s tourism industry is well placed to face ongoing economic challenges.

The NWDA is committed to supporting and developing the tourism sector in the Northwest and the five tourist boards are primary delivery partners for the Agency, helping to deliver the Regional Tourism Strategy.

James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, said:- “The current economic climate will inevitably have an impact on the tourism industry, which is why it is now more important than ever for us to continue to invest in the region’s tourism offer.  The NWDA is committed to supporting the region’s visitor economy and this investment will ensure a strong climate of support for tourism during these challenging times.

If we continue to invest in infrastructure, training, marketing our unique offer and, above all, maintain a quality, value-for-money visitor experience, the Northwest can continue to develop its competitive advantage and capitalise on the increasing trend to holiday at home.”

It's not all doom and gloom on the retail high street

SHOPWORKERS' union, Usdaw, welcomes the announcements of new jobs to be created in some of the major retail food companies this year.

Tesco is creating 10,000 across the UK business, Morrisons over 5,000, Sainsbury's up to 4,000 and Iceland 2,500.

New jobs will be established across the Morrisons business including positions such as butchers, fishmongers and bakers.  Morrisons will also boost its training programme which aims to train 18,000 employees in its 1st year.  Morrisons' announcement comes only days after Sainsbury's announced that it intends to recruit up to 4,000 new staff this year and will keep on about 2,000 of the temporary Christmas staff.

Iceland stores have also just bought 51 of the former Woolworths stores which will create 2,500 jobs.

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett commented:- "Usdaw is delighted by the plans of these major retailers to create these new jobs in 2009.  We are also pleased that Iceland stores have stepped in to buy 51 of the Woolworths stores.

These are really good news stories at a time when job losses, many in retail, are announced on an almost daily basis.  Even though we are going through challenging economic times, it's clearly not all doom and gloom on the retail high street.

Usdaw urges all retailers to look at these examples of business expansion.  At this difficult time, retailers mustn't panic and rush in to make redundancies as their staff are their greatest asset and the Union will always encourage companies to take a long term view.  Retailers will not want to lose experienced and trained staff.

The recession is worrying news but it may not be as bad as some people fear.  All employers need to take the long-term view and protect as many jobs as possible through this economic downturn."

LIVERPOOL COULD MISS OUT ON COACH BOOM AS HOLIDAY MAKERS CUT SPENDING ABROAD

NEARLY twice as many Britons are likely to holiday in the British Isles this year compared to 2008, according to a new survey commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK.  But while these figures suggest an influx of visitors for UK tourist destinations, coach bosses say that Liverpool could miss out by offering limited facilities to coach operators who last year carried a staggering 273 million passengers.

With 51% of the population admitting the credit crunch is likely to affect their holiday plans this year it paves the way for more cost effective travel.  Britain’s Coaches - Partnership and Passengers, the CPT’s manifesto for the coach industry showcases the coach as the most cost-effective form of public transport available in the UK.  To download Britain’s Coaches - Partnership and Passengers manifesto visit:- www.cpt-uk.org.


Phillipa Sudlow, North Western CPT Regional Manager, said:- “Every year more than 273 million tourist and leisure trips are made by coach which proves the industry is big business for UK tourism and transport economy.  However, the region could miss out on this economic boost because of an inadequate provision for coaches.  Local authorities, tourist boards, city councils and tourism providers can all benefit from embracing coach travel but there is often a failure to recognise the broader benefits that coach transport can bring to their community.

In contrast, nearby Southport is a shining example on being coach-friendly.  The town has seven drop-off/pick-up points with hosts to meet and greet passengers.  The coach park has a coach driver’s lounge with a kitchen, lounge, toilets and showers.  It is safe and cheap, located in a fenced compound with CCTV security and only costs £3.00 a day.”

Britain’s Coaches: Partnership and Passengers points to adequate parking facilities and suitable access to amenities for coach parties as essential if authorities wish to make their localities welcoming to coach travel.  Other recommendations include:-

► Central government, local government and businesses should actively promote the importance of the coach to the UK economy, the environment and society

► Local authorities should provide adequate setting-down and picking-up points and long-stay coach parking that is safe and secure

► Local authorities should charge a reasonable fee for coach parking and adopt a more pragmatic approach to parking and ticketing restrictions

► Central government should encourage local authorities to take action and implement the changes needed

► Central Government to broaden the scope of the Bus Service Operator Grant to include coach services to ensure coach travel is kept affordable and competitive with other forms of transport

► Review of current guidelines and planning procedures to ensure that when a new attraction or hotel is built, there is suitable access and facilities available which embraces coach travel

Ms Sudlow concluded:- “Supporting provision for coaches in Liverpool will have a positive impact on the city’s economy.  With local authorities, coach operators and local businesses working more closely, the remarkable potential offered by this sustainable, inclusive and efficient mode of transport can be fully realised.”

Liverpool statistics:-

Nearly 20% more people from Liverpool are likely to holiday in the UK this year compared to 2008.

61% of people from Liverpool would rather keep annual getaway than cut back on other items.

29% of people from Liverpool are planning to spend less than £500 on main holiday this year.