Lancashire’s 63 Million Reasons to Celebrate English Tourism Week

Lancashire attracts over 63 million visitors to the county who contribute £3.5billion to the local economy and help support over 56 thousand jobs.

English Tourism Week 2015 (#ETW15) is a week-long celebration of events from 14 -22 March showcasing the quality and vibrancy of visitor experiences and the £106bn the visitor economy brings to the nation. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is Patron of English Tourism Week.

Marketing Lancashire and fellow Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) across England are helping raise the profile of the industry, tourism colleagues and the quality of visitor attractions and businesses in their individual destinations. 

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said “Lancashire’s popularity as a visitor destination is growing each year, with visitor numbers exceeding those for the Lake District by 20 million.  This success is down to the wide range of events and attractions, activities and accommodation that we have in Lancashire, offering visitors and residents, choice and quality that’s simply hard to beat.

“Part of our role during English Tourism Week is to encourage colleagues in the industry to engage with the national campaign, to hold special events that highlight our Lancashire character, distinctive food and drink, and warm hospitality.  It’s about being proud of our industry and our achievements, in the county where life feels good.”

Marketing Lancashire has chosen English Tourism Week #ETW15 to launch a new pan-Lancashire website dedicated to cycling.  Hosted on visitlancashire.com and supported by all 14 district councils in the county CycleLancashire.com brings together the variety of routes, facilities, events and projects provided by so many organisations in Lancashire.

With maps to help plan a cycling day out, event listings, places to take a well earned rest and sample some delicious local produce, cycle-friendly accommodation, places to hire bikes as well as tips on how to keep safe on the roads, you'll find it all at CycleLancashire.com

County Councillor John Fillis, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Encouraging our residents to be active and healthy, and attracting visitors to boost our economy, are among the county council's top priorities and I'm very pleased that we're able to support this website.

"Lancashire has a lot to offer for cyclists of all interests and abilities, and the Cycle Lancashire website will provide a very valuable one-stop-shop for anyone who wants information on events, routes and places to eat and drink."

Lancashire County Council aims to get more people on bikes, more of the time and cyclelancashire.com is a great way of finding information on all things cycling. The benefits of cycling are clear, making some of your usual car journeys by bike is a cheap, congestion busting way of getting your recommended exercise, and nothing beats the fun and freedom of a family day out by bike. 

To help launch the site a programme of cycle road-shows will be held around Lancashire with the first at the Chorley Grand Prix on 4 April. The road-shows will offer advice on local routes and rides, fun bike-related activities and a chance to win a bike worth £350.

Throughout English Tourism Week, Marketing Lancashire will share news of activities and special offers for visitors on visitlancashire.com and through social media channels. Lancashire MPs have also been invited to engage with local tourism businesses on their constituency days to raise awareness of commendable initiatives and entrepreneurialism in the tourism sector.

For Lancashire updates follow @MarketingLancs and @VisitLancashire and join in the conversations using #ETW15.  For more information about English Tourism Week go to visitengland.org

ENDS

Media/Photo Opportunities during English Tourism Week

Tuesday 17th March at 10.00am – Cyclelancashire.com launch at Brockholes nature reserve, Samlesbury, Preston.  Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire and County Cllr John Fillis and friends, launch the new pan-Lancashire website dedicated to cycling.

Friday 20th at 3pm – Mark Menzies MP and Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, meet tourism entrepreneur Stuart Robertson at his award winning St Annes Beach Huts in Lytham St Annes, Winner of Lancashire Tourism Award 2014 Best Visitor Experience.

Saturday 21st at 11am – Rosie Cooper MP meets Nick Brooks, Centre Manager of the award-winning nature reserve at WWT Martin Mere, Burscough celebrating its 40th anniversary. 

To arrange interviews, photography or for more information please contact:
Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications   01772 426 459
Laura Crabb, PR and Communications Executive 01772 426 456
    

Notes to Editors

1. Marketing Lancashire is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Lancashire, established (1st April 2012).   Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the profile of Lancashire as the first choice destination to visit, live, study, work and invest in.

Lancashire attracted 63 million visitors who contributed around £3.5 billion to the local economy and helped support 56,137 jobs. 

2. England’s tourism sector impacts on everyone – visitors, residents and employees. It is one of the few sectors active in every part of the country and is the third largest employer; every day supporting 2.6 million jobs and providing a significant source of employment for those unable to work full-time. The tourism sector is a major employer of school leavers and young people, as well as a rich source of entrepreneurs.

The visitor economy is worth £106bn a year to England, supporting thousands of businesses and impacting significantly on the performance of supplier industries including farming, transport, retail, sport, museums and galleries, the theatre and other performing arts.

 Marketing Lancashire, Farington House, Lancashire Enterprise Business Park,
Centurion Way, Leyland PR26 6TW

www.marketinglancashire.com
www.visitlancashire.com

Marketing Lancashire Ltd. Registered Office: Christ Church Precinct, County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston, PR1 8XJ  Registered in England and Wales under No.05039554