Visitors invited to Enjoy Staffordshire during English Tourism Week

People looking for an amazing place to visit are being reminded that Staffordshire has it all, as the county celebrates English Tourism Week.

Taking place from 17 to 26 March, the campaign will highlight the importance of the tourism sector to the UK economy.  The focus for this year is celebrating the amazing experiences, places and people working in the industry.

The week-long celebration comes as Enjoy Staffordshire launches its new visitor economy action plan.  This sets out how it will grow the sector and attract even more visitors to the county, working in partnership with over 300 organisations including attractions, hospitality businesses, locations and local councils.

Staffordshire is home to two of the UK’s leading theme parks, Drayton Manor Park and the Alton Towers Resort.  It is also the only UK county to have a National Park, a National Forest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Whether it’s a day trip, short break or longer stay in the county, people are being urged to either visit a local attraction, or share a photo of their favourite place on social media.

Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council said:

“English Tourism Week is a great celebration that allows us to shout about the many reasons to visit our amazing county.

“It’s down to the hard work of our tourism businesses and those working in them, who continue to provide a brilliant visitor and customer experience.  Last week we also held the annual Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food awards, where we celebrated the best of the sector.

“Attracting even more visitors to Staffordshire and raising our profile nationally, remains a priority.  Our action plan will shape and influence the activities and investment decisions of all those with a stake in Staffordshire’s visitor economy, to create a joined-up experience and offer to draw visitors from near and far.”

Staffordshire’s visitor economy is worth an estimated £1.8 billion per year. It’s the fourth largest employer in the county and employs almost 32,000 people.

The county boasts the ‘nationals’ such as the National Memorial Arboretum and National Football Centre and is also home to many smaller attractions and venues, all supported by a great range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and retailers.  These all help to ensure people have a great visitor experience.

Historic houses and gardens also feature heavily in Staffordshire’s portfolio of world-class visitor attractions, together with museums and visitor centres that tell the story of the county’s pottery industry, brewing industry and rich industrial heritage.

To see what Staffordshire has to offer visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com.

Video link: Some of Staffordshire’s amazing experiences, places and people