MPs probe how to boost rural tourism

Tourism spending has increased across the country as a whole over the past year from both domestic and international visitors, according to figures from Visit England, but MPs are questioning just how much of that is to the benefit of rural areas.

Rural tourism provides around £17bn a year to the English economy but in 2014 just 18 per cent of domestic overnight trips were taken to rural areas, down from 22 per cent in 2012, while more than half of all international spend was in London.

The inquiry has been launched by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee today and it will focus on three particular areas.

MPs will examine how government policies can: encourage more people, both from the UK and abroad, to visit more of England’s rural places, for longer and at all times of the year; support farmers and rural residents to diversify into tourism and grow their businesses; and ensure visitors’ experiences are balanced with the need to preserve the environment and the character of local communities.

Neil Parish MP, chairman of the EFRA Committee, said: “Tourism in rural areas creates job opportunities and supports the economic viability of communities. At a time in which volatile agricultural prices and depopulation threaten businesses and rural services, we are asking how effectively public programmes and government policies support these areas to stay competitive in a global industry.

“We will also be asking how we can work to make the growth of countryside and coastal tourism sustainable, balancing economic, social and environmental interests.”

The Committee is seeking written evidence on several key questions.

It wants expert testimony on how well agencies promote rural destinations across England and what more should the Government do to support this work.

Their enquiry also seeks evidence on what, if any, changes are needed to give people better access to the coast and countryside; how public funding can be best targeted to get new rural tourist businesses off the ground and keep them going and whether changes are needed to tax levels and business rates.

MPs hope to gather additional evidence on any changes that could be made to planning and other regulations covering rural areas of special character, such as National Parks, to encourage sustainable tourism; what measures are needed to ensure transport, housing and other infrastructure meets visitor needs, and how the sector can ensure there are enough people with the right skills to support customers and businesses.

With the government’s role at the heart of the enquiry, evidence is also being sought on how national and local policies can get the right balance between growing tourism and enhancing the local environment and character, and what more the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should do to ensure government departments support rural tourism.

Written evidence can be submitted online via the inquiry page by September 6.