The aim of the English Tourism Week, which is organised by VisitEngland is to increase awareness of English tourism, as well as raise standards and promote training to improve customer service.  In 2016 things are set to be as exciting as ever!

English Tourism Week is a week-long celebration of events showcasing the quality and vibrancy of visitor experiences and the value the industry brings to the nation.  The national initiative was designed to:

• Raise the profile and understanding of tourism with decision makers, the media, those who work in the industry and those considering a career in the industry.

• Increase awareness amongst consumers, including local residents who can discover the delights on their doorstep and visitors from further afield who can experience England, its variety, accessibility and value.

• Provide a national framework for local destinations, businesses and organisations to use to build their own marketing and PR campaigns.

Tourism is essential to England’s economy.  It generates £97 billion each year, employs in excess of two million people and supports thousands of businesses, both directly and indirectly.  It also has an interdependent relationship with a range of sectors including farming, transport, retailing, sport, museums and the arts.

Did you know?

• England welcomes over 25 million international visitors per year.

• England is home to 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Stonehenge and the Tower of London.

• Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon and York are all official heritage cities.

• England has over 600 miles of coastline incorporating some of the finest beaches, rocky cliffs, salt marshes and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

• England has a host of world-class attractions from the Eden Project to Alton Towers and some of the top museums and galleries in the world – many of which are free to enter.

• England can provide events for every taste, from world famous music festivals such as Glastonbury, to traditional events such as Royal Ascot and Henley Regatta.

• Some 873 million day trips are made each year with an estimated value of £39bn.

• England provides some of the best shopping experiences in the world, from iconic markets to the most famous luxury brands, designer city centre malls to specialist ‘outlet’ villages.

• With ten national parks, 33 official designated areas of outstanding natural beauty and over 4,000 sites of special scientific interest, England has some of the most varied and spectacual countryside. 

We know in North Devon that festivals, fairs, regattas, guided walks, cycling, marathon and sports competitions are all great ways of increasing tourism locally. As events are held around the year and not just in the holiday weeks, so more people travel to the area and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

In North Devon tourism is worth £550 million to the economy and supports one in four jobs. and marketing for the North Devon area is currently being funded by private business and individuals.

So enjoy all that North Devon has to offer including: The Tarka Trail, any one of our outstanding beaches (eg. Croyde Bay, Woolacombe, Ilfracombe) or coastal walks, Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor National Park, the list is by no means exclusive!

And you want to make more of the country side we live in check out some of the amazing events on in April, May and june that you can take part in 

For more information visit the VisitEngland website at: http://www.visitengland.org/.