Staffordshire’s tourism industry has landed a £500,000 investment to help increase the availability of beds for travellers in the area.
The European Union development grant is being used in a three year project submitted by the Destination Staffordshire Partnership. It is hoped that over 100 existing small and medium businesses will benefit from the investment to support the creation of others and boost the counties tourism industry, aiming to bring the number of beds & camp site spaces in from it’s current total of around 21,232, more into line with the national average of 65,455.
With Alton Towers alone bringing in almost 2 million visitors in 2015, Stone is the perfect place for travellers to the region to lay their heads, as well being central to the area’s 3 major airports. Within easy transport distance of the Alton Resort, along with Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire County Showground, and Shugborough Hall amongst others, Stone is hoped to be one of the benefactors of the increased tourism pull. With some of the best eateries & restaurants of the county, and beautiful canal side walks, the town itself holds plenty to interest visitors.
Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Economic Growth, said: “It remains to be seen what exactly Brexit will mean, but we’re working hard to secure and deliver the European funding that will make a difference to our economy and people’s lives.”We have a 23.7 million day-trippers visiting Staffordshire and spending more than £960 million in the county every year, but the number of hotel and B&B beds and camp site spaces we have available is well below the national average. If we could encourage an increase in both the number of beds and the range of accommodation available, which would lead to more overnight stays, we believe that could generate an additional £86 million of income over three years and create more than 750 new jobs.”
The £507,000 from the European Regional Development Fund forms 60 per cent of the budget, with the rest coming from organisations such as the county council.
With workshops being led by tourism experts, one to one advice for new and existing businesses, the support will show how to use social media to full effect and how to make the most of specialist tourism organisations such as Enjoy Staffordshire. There will also be a survey of people familiar and not familiar with the area on their perception of the county, and an evaluation of the impact of the project on Staffordshire’s tourism economy.
Mark Winnington added: “Staffordshire is a diverse, beautiful county with many man-made and natural attractions and tourism contributes millions of pounds to our economy. This project will provide a platform for existing businesses and small start-ups to thrive and prosper, while at the same time benefiting the wider county.”
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
