Shropshire's half-a-billion pounds tourism industry is set to
benefit from the recent formation of Shropshire Council's new
tourism team.
The team will be focusing on activities including delivering the
Tourism Business Grant Scheme, maximising opportunities presented
by 2012 and its link to Much Wenlock, and ensuring that potential
visitors to Shropshire are aware of the accommodation, attractions,
market towns and events on offer.
Working in partnership with other tourism bodies will be an
important part of the new team's work.
Shropshire Council is a member of the Shropshire and Telford
Destination Management Partnership (DMP), which aims to boost the
economic benefits that tourism brings to local communities and
businesses.
The council also supports the marketing activities of Shropshire
Tourism and the local tourism associations to ensure that every
corner of the county is promoted to visitors.
David Roberts, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for local
environment and economy, said: "The development of Shropshire's
economy is one of the council's priorities and tourism is a vital
sector that the council can support. We are very lucky to have some
of the most experienced staff in the country and I look forward to
working with them and the tourism industry to make Shropshire a
really popular and successful destination."
Louise Cross, Team leader for sector support with Shropshire
Council, said: "Now that the tourism staff from the former district
and borough councils have all come together under the new council
we are working hard to co-ordinate the wide range of services we
provide to ensure that people know what Shropshire has to
offer."
Shropshire Council provides a wide range of services to visitors
and tourism businesses including Visitor Information Centres in all
the main towns, museums and popular attractions like the Shropshire
Hills Discovery Centre and the new Mere development at
Ellesmere.
The council also provides car parking, open spaces, rights of
way and a host of other infrastructure used by visitors and local
people alike.
One of the highlights of the year so far has been national TV
exposure on BBC2 of Shropshire Council's Acton Scott Historic
Working Farm.