Shropshire Council to continue investing in tourism

Shropshire Council says it will continue to invest in the tourism sector despite axing its two tourism officer posts later this year.

As part of its review of services and redesign, the council is changing the way it supports the tourism sector as it moves from ‘hands on delivery’ to a more strategic role in developing the sector.

The two current tourism officer posts held by Alison Patrick and Tim King will come to an end. The council will then create one new post, which will concentrate on developing the impact of its own facilities such as museums. The new post will ensure that the council still plays a part in supporting the sector at a strategic level.

Marches LEP and Shropshire Council are also developing a new Business Growth Hub that will provide a new one stop shop for businesses with support, signposting and grant information.

Shropshire Council will continue to invest in the sector by either direct delivery of the Visitor Information Service, for example, in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth where the service is part of other joint service delivery, or by commissioning the delivery of Visitor Information as in Ludlow, Church Stretton and Mile End, Oswestry.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader, and Cabinet member with responsibility for tourism, said:

“Tourism is a significant and important sector within the Shropshire economy. However, unfortunately reductions in funding mean we have to make very difficult choices about prioritising the work we do.

“This doesn’t mean that we will not promote Shropshire as a visitor destination because we will. Through the proposed new post we will continue to support the sector at a strategic level and will ensure Shropshire benefits from any new strategic funding opportunities.

“The work of the team to date has put the sector in a strong position to continue to grow. By investing in developing strong partnerships at a destination or town level, with appropriate strategies in place, businesses, existing tourism organisations and communities can continue to work together to attract new external funding opportunities available to rural areas, whilst in Shrewsbury the BID will market our county town as a premier tourism destination.”