- England’s Waterways Tourism Export Programme set up to support companies to attract overseas visitors
- Last chance for businesses to apply ahead of 17 September deadline
Supported and funded by Discover England, the England’s Waterways Tourism Export Programme will give firms in the leisure sector the skills to work with international tour operators and to learn how to sell their product to entice overseas visitors to the region.
The programme is available to tourism businesses, which are located within one mile of the region’s waterways. Firms have until 17 September to apply.
Becky Frall, Tourism Development Manager at West Midlands Growth Company, said:
“With an economic impact of more than £8 billion, tourism is one of the West Midlands’ largest industries, with more than 72 million visitors attracted to the region each year.
“These new workshops will give businesses the edge in attracting more visitors from international markets by educating them fully about the travel trade industry and how they can profit from it.
“Through our research, we’ve learned that 2,000 tourism and hospitality businesses across the region are eligible to apply to attend the programme – and we urge them to get in touch with us before the deadline.”
England’s Waterways is one of a number of successful projects to receive funding from the £40 million Discover England Fund, administered by central government and supported by match funding by partners in the public and private sectors. The project will maximise the underutilised national assets within the West Midlands region, focusing on the area’s waterways as a key feature for the attraction and dispersal of visitors.
The West Midlands Growth Company will work in collaboration with VisitEngland on a programme of activity to ensure that England stays competitive in the rapidly growing global tourism industry by offering world-class tourism products to customers.
For more information and to register to attend, please visit http://www.businesstourismsolutions.com/waterways.htm