Tourism In Bedfordshire
Posted by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire, at 15:22, Thu 19 April 2007:
On Monday 16th April 2007 I had the opportunity to lead an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons on 'Tourism in Bedfordshire.'
I take a particular interest in tourism issues and last month took part in a Tourism Tour of Mid Bedfordshire, as part of Visit Britain's first tourism week. The Minister for Tourism, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport - Shaun Woodward MP - responded to the debate.
The tourism industry in Bedfordshire already employs nearly 10,000 people and contributes over £465 Million per year to the local economy. At the last count 11.2 million people made visits in the County, to enjoy the wide variety of attractions and events we have to offer. However, in recent years the tourism industry has remained static in terms of visitor numbers and spending per visitor is actually falling in real terms, in stark contrast to the rest of the region and the country as a whole. The 2012 London Olympic Games must be used as a catalyst to help further develop tourism locally. We must seriously raise our game as a County if we are to take full advantage of the opportunities that tourism will bring.
However, if we are to raise our game, we must encourage even more people to visit Bedfordshire, ensure they stay for longer; and ensure they spend more whilst they are here too. Bedfordshire is a great place in which to live, work and visit - by promoting our tourist industry, local people will benefit through new jobs and additional investment in our infrastructure. During the debate I called on the Minister to ensure that Bedfordshire receives the extra resources we need to improve the quality of our local infrastructure. If the tourism industry is to grow, we need the extra capacity through better transport links to meet any increases in demand.
If you would like to read the debate or even watch it, you can do so by visting my website at the following link:
http://www.dorries.org.uk/Story.aspx?ID=426
If you have any thoughts, views or concerns on this, or any other issues then please get in contact with me in the usual way.
Write to me at: Nadine Dorries MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Telephone me on: 020 7219 4239
Fax me on: 020 7219 6428
Email me at: dorriesn@parliament.uk
Visit my website at: www.dorries.org.uk
Nadine
Nadine Dorries MP Member of Parliament for Mid-Bedfordshire
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