Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) has launched a new culture and tourism group to help grow the tourism economy, bringing additional jobs and visitors to the area.
Tourism accounts for 40,000 jobs in Coventry and Warwickshire which is 8.5 per cent of total employment, contributing more than one in ten jobs in south Warwickshire, and plays a key role in the local economy by delivering over £550 million in output a year.
The CWLEP’s Strategic Economic Plan acknowledges the importance of the tourism and leisure sector which is supported by analysis nationally by Deloitte’s that has identified strong growth in the sector over the last few years and suggests it will continue to grow at a faster than average rate.
The new Culture and Tourism Business Group will be chaired by Catherine Mallyon, Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a CWLEP board director, with other members made-up from leisure, culture and tourism sectors across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Catherine said: “Coventry and Warwickshire has some of the very best cultural and leisure attractions in the whole of the UK – from Shakespeare’s birthplace to Warwick Castle, from the RSC to Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre.
“More than five million leisure visitors come to our area every year. We want to give them a fantastic experience when they are here, encouraging them to stay longer and explore further.
“We want to entice new visitors from the UK and overseas as well as making sure local residents are aware of everything that is on offer in our region.
“This new Business Group will help the culture and leisure sectors to work together, stimulating the local economy, safeguarding and creating jobs and playing their part in making Coventry and Warwickshire a truly great place to live.
“The 2016 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death provides an ideal time to build on this joined-up approach.”
