Local partnership chosen as tourism pathfinder (From York Press)

Local partnership chosen as tourism pathfinder

10:04am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Business news By Julie Hayes, Business editor

THE York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership has been chosen by Government to be a national example to the tourism industry.

The local enterprise partnership (LEP) will share it’s expertise nationally with other LEPs after being appointed as the first and only tourism-focused pathfinder by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

The LEP will work with VisitEngland, the national tourist board, to look at the success factors that help businesses innovate. It will work with some of the LEP area’s most forward-thinking business people as well as experts from across England, including the brains behind Foursquare, The Eden Project, City Inn Hotels, Alton Towers and Legoland as well as local organisations The Feversham Arms, Welcome to Yorkshire and Bivouac.

There will also be discussions with tourism agencies about how to spread the learning locally and get businesses involved.

Pat Oxley, LEP board member and Pickering B&B owner, said: “There are many top-class businesses in our area, but tourism is a competitive industry. With many of our small businesses caught up in day-to-day business, we want to make it easier for them to pick up and run with new ideas.

“This isn’t blue-sky hot-air stuff, this will generate some copper-bottomed practical ways to grow cutting-edge businesses.

“Although we’re starting with tourism, we’re sure much will be applicable to other businesses in the LEP area.”

Michael Fallon, business minister, said: “Local Enterprise Partnerships are a shift away from central government and national quangos to local communities and local businesses that really understand the barriers to growth in their areas. The York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership is a real pathfinder for others to follow. Tourism is big business for Yorkshire and proactive local leadership is important to ensure that they can continue to prosper in this hugely competitive industry.”

James Berresford, VisitEngland’s chief executive said: “We’re confident that a focus such as this on innovation will help to generate creative ideas that could benefit tourism and ultimately support its continued growth.”