Sir Gavin Williamson took part in celebrations for English Tourism Week in Parliament, an event to discuss ways to support the tourism industry.
Sir Gavin met with Tourism Minister, Julia Lopez, to discuss how he could highlight Staffordshire’s unique contribution to the tourism sector during English Tourism Week. He also met with representatives from the Tourism Alliance, a body made up of tourist organisations across the UK, set up to ensure good communication between the sector and Parliament.
Prior to the pandemic, the English tourism sector generated over £100 billion a year and supported 2.6 million jobs. In 2019, Staffordshire’s contribution to the tourism sector was worth £1.8 billion a year. The industry is still in need of support as it recovers from the setbacks of Covid-19, and Sir Gavin was keen to spotlight particular sites in South Staffordshire worthy of a visit.
Sir Gavin said: “Millions pass through Staffordshire every year as we’re lucky to be well connected by road and rail. However, I’d like to see even more growth in Staffordshire’s visitor economy. Tourism is a major employer for school leavers and young people and supports 33,000 jobs across the region. We’ve got a lot of potential for a booming tourism industry as Staffordshire is home to many strong attractions, including an extensive network of canals, several stately homes, and market towns. There are plenty of country walking trails and villages to explore, and excellent restaurants to sample. I’d encourage everyone to come, visit, and enjoy.”
