Pictured above: Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt (front row,
centre) meets David James, Chief Executive of Visit Peak District
& Derbyshire (front row, left) and Andrew Pugh, Chairman of
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire (front row, right) and other
leading figures in the tourism industry at Breadsall Priory,
Morley, near Derby
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt visited Derbyshire for a
whistle-stop summit with leading figures in local tourism to debate
current and future challenges facing the industry.
David James, Chief Executive of official tourist board Visit
Peak District & Derbyshire, and the tourist board's Chairman
Andrew Pugh hosted a round-the-table discussion with Mr. Hunt at
Marriott Breadsall Priory, Morley, near Derby on Monday March
7th.
Mr. Hunt met delegates from the Peak District & Derbyshire
for an hour-long fact-finding session on the same day as an
historic Government Cabinet meeting in Derby.
Among the topical issues under the spotlight were:
• The economic importance of tourism in the Peak District
& Derbyshire, and the impressive return on investment the
tourist board has achieved to date
• Challenges and opportunities ahead - including the
growing involvement of the private sector and growing support for
the tourist board's activities - including its role as a pathfinder
'Destination of Distinction' with national tourist board
VisitEngland
• New ways of working in the tourism industry - outlined in
the Government's newly-published Tourism Policy document
• Quality assurance systems for consumers, and how they
will work in the future
"We are delighted that Mr. Hunt took the opportunity to join us
for what proved to be a constructive and fruitful exchange of views
at a time of great change and challenge for everyone working in the
tourism sector," said David James.
"The Government has signalled its commitment to supporting and
developing the industry in the future in its newly-published
Tourism Policy document, which makes specific reference to the Peak
District as a 'key larger-scale destination', and we appreciated
the chance to meet the Culture Secretary in person to discuss a
broad range of issues.
"Tourism is one of the key growth industries in the Peak
District & Derbyshire - generating an annual £1.4 billion
of spending and supporting more than 25,000 jobs - and we are
determined to keep the area at the at the forefront of any future
national strategy to maximise its economic potential."
Key local tourism industry representatives at the meeting were:
Paul Ball, Managing Director of activity providers Peak Pursuits;
David Croasdale, General Manager of the Hallmark Derby Hotel; Paul
Roden, Owner of award-winning Losehill House Country Hotel, Hope;
Steve Ogan, Owner of award-winning Blakelow Self-Catering Cottages,
Winster; Sally Hogg, Marketing Director of Chatsworth; Matthew
Eastlake, Marketing Director of the Camping and Caravanning Club;
Sarah McLeod, Chief Executive of the Arkwright Society, based at
the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site; Matt Doran, External
Affairs Manager (Midlands) The National Trust; Piers Bostock,
Chairman of Heage Windmill, an award winning heritage attraction
run entirely by volunteers; James Blick, Chairman of the Derbyshire
& Nottinghamshire Institute of Directors and Managing Director
of the Finesse Collection of Hotels; Nick Dumbell, General Manager
of award winning Breadsall Priory Marriott Hotel &
Country Club.