02 July 2007
England's Northwest to benefit from Green Tourism Boom
More “green tourists” will visit the Northwest this summer than
ever before.
England's Northwest is poised to reap the benefits as tourists
become more environmentally aware.
That’s according to Natural Economy Northwest, a new partnership
programme that is working to boost awareness of the natural
environment’s value and in turn boost the regional economy by
bringing in more jobs and investment.
Natural Economy Northwest believes more people are seeking out
“low impact” holidays as they become increasingly aware of their
carbon footprint and its effect on climate change.
And that will bring more visitors to a region that boasts a
wealth of attractions and some of the most beautiful countryside in
Europe. Rural tourism in the Northwest already amounts to
£770million for the economy and some 37,500 jobs.
Natural Economy Northwest Programme Director Will Williams said:
“A quarter of all tourism here already depends on the environment.
The airlines are facing tough challenges as more people ditch
flying in favour of holidays at home and we are confident we can
offer those people what they want.
“People already come to the region to walk, visit our historic
parks or gardens, take part in sports as diverse as sailing, scuba
diving, mountain biking or caving, or spend a day on the beach. As
we raise awareness of our offer, we expect even more people to
discover the region’s fantastic natural environment. It would be no
surprise if our visitor numbers this year smash all previous
records.”
James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “ The natural environment
of England’s Northwest is second to none. In fact, 80 per cent of
this region is green and pleasant land and with England’s largest
National Park, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and over
100 kilometres of magnificent coastline, it’s no surprise that our
rural areas continue to attract visitors throughout the year.”
Natural Economy Northwest – led by Natural England, the
Northwest Regional Development Agency and the environmental funding
group SITA Trust – pulls together tourism, business development and
environment sector specialists from across the region. Together,
this team of experts works to identify natural environment projects
that, with the right investment or maintenance, will deliver real
economic development. The programme then works for the leverage of
the funding together with training, intelligence and support to see
the project through.
But one of the first steps the programme is taking is to ensure
that people across the region understand the very real contribution
that the environment makes. A communications campaign, called the
100 Days Campaign, was launched on June 25 to do just that. The
programme will reveal a new fact about the region’s natural
environment every day for 100 days.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Michael Short at Creative Concern on 0161 236 0600, email michael@creativeconcern.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Natural Economy Northwest was established in 2006. It is a
three-year multi-partnership programme that maximises the economic
benefit from existing and new investment in the region’s natural
environment.
Natural Economy Northwest nurtures natural environment projects
that, with the right investment, can deliver cultural and economic
benefits across the Northwest.
The environmental economy already generates £2.6bn GVA within
the regional economy every year, and employs 109,000 people. But
the value of a high quality natural environment stretches much
further than that.
Businesses rely on quality of life - of which a major factor is
access to high quality green space – to attract and retain workers,
while a stunning natural landscape can vastly improve the
perception of the region. This, in turn, can lead to higher levels
of inward investment.
Natural Economy Northwest is made up of senior figures from
Natural England, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, United
Utilities, Tourist Boards, Groundwork, Northwest Regional Assembly,
Government Office North West, NW Biodiversity Forum, Forestry
Commission, the Wildlife Trusts, Environment Agency, Rural
Regeneration Cumbria, Lake District National Park, Community
Forests, Friends of the Lake District, National Trust and the
RSPB.
Natural Economy Northwest’s 100 days campaign aims to uncover
100 facts and figures about the natural economy and its
contribution to the region. Lasting 100 days, it has set out reveal
a new fact every day to drive home the message about the economic,
social and cultural value of the region’s natural environment. The
campaign comprises a mix of facts about what the natural
environment delivers, and the breadth and variety of the natural
offer in the region. In doing this, the campaign will break down
perceptions of the region as being a largely urban region and it
will create advocacy for investment in the natural economy.
SITA Trust distributes funding through the Landfill Communities
Fund. Funding is available for biodiversity,
community and environmental improvement projects within ten miles
of an active SITA UK landfill site. Since 1997 the Trust has
allocated over £54m to hundreds of projects across the UK.
www.sitatrust.org.uk
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve
and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban,
coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural
environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of
people, and the economic prosperity it brings.