Chatsworth is among eight Peak District and Derbyshire businesses chosen to promote England as a leading destination for accessible tourism – now worth £3 billion to the national economy.

Official tourist board, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire is one of just seven destinations to secure a share in national tourist board, VisitEngland’s ‘Access for All’ project, funded by a 125,000 Euros (almost £98,000) grant from the European Commission.

All the businesses taking part along with Chatsworth – Crich Tramway Village; East Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, Rowsley; Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington; the Peak District National Park Authority’s Parsley Hay Cycle Centre; Peak Shopping Village, Rowsley and Rivendale Caravan and Leisure Park, near Ashbourne – will have the opportunity to promote and improve their accessibility as part of the project.

Their employees will have access to the very latest training to boost their skills, while an informative guide will showcase the warm welcome and wide variety of experiences all visitors – including those with access needs – can expect in the Peak District and Derbyshire.

VisitEngland will also launch a national marketing campaign in the late summer and early autumn to promote experiences available for visitors with access needs and encourage more people to take a short break in England.

“We’re delighted to have the chance to take part in this VisitEngland initiative, which will put the Peak District and Derbyshire firmly on the map as one of the country’s leading destinations offering accessibility to all,” said Lindsay Rae, Industry Engagement Manager at Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

“We already work with our Patrons, members and organisations such as Accessible Derbyshire to make people aware that much progress has already been made to improve accessibility to accommodation, attractions and activities in the area.

“‘Access for All’ involves some of the flagship businesses that have already made great strides in catering for this growing market, and will build on what has already been achieved.”

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland, added: “We are committed to ensuring England is a destination that offers a warm welcome for all visitors. The Access for All project is a fantastic opportunity to continue to build England’s reputation as a leader in accessible tourism, and help grow this important and valuable market.”

New research by VisitEngland reveals that the overnight accessible tourism market is now worth £3 billion to England’s economy, with day visits boosting the figure to £12.4 billion. Over the past four years, overnight trips by disabled tourists and their companions have increased by 19 per cent, with spending up by 33 per cent.

Source:Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

Tourism in the Peak District and Derbyshire is poised on the brink of a brand new era as the newly-restructured tourist board looks forward to fresh challenges and opportunities in 2015 and beyond.

Changes at the top at Visit Peak District & Derbyshire are designed to take the organisation forward into an even brighter future as a world class tourism destination.

DMO Director Jo Dilley – who has been involved in the strategic development of the tourist board since its inception – is now at the helm of a leaner, reshaped team.

The announcement comes at the end of a review of the tourist board, instigated by its key public funders to assess its performance and achievements since it was set up nine years ago.

The review panel – consisting of representatives from both the public and private sectors – was also charged with recommending ways in which the tourist board’s structure and operations could be modified to ensure its continued success.

A new, revised structure has now been approved by both the review panel and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s Board.

“I am delighted to welcome Jo Dilley as DMO Director,” said Paul Roden, Chairman of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire. “After nine years as a pivotal member of the tourist board’s senior management team, she is the ideal choice to steer the organisation through its current period of transition.

“I would like to assure visitors, stakeholders, Patrons and members that they can continue to count on the high standard and wide range of services they have come to expect from the tourist board as we embark on an exciting array of marketing activities in 2015 and beyond.

“Much has already been achieved, and with our revised and responsive new structure, we can look forward to an even more promising future – building on the strong relationships we have forged with all our public and private sector partners.”

David James, former Chief Executive at the tourist board, who will join Bath Tourism Plus as Chief Executive in the New Year, added: “It has been a great honour to lead the team at Visit Peak District & Derbyshire for the past nine years.

“It has been particularly rewarding to see the difference our destination has achieved over that time. Our national Tourist Board, VisitEngland, now recognises it as one of the leading destinations in the country – a massive result achieved by working together with all our public and private sector partners for the greater good.

“I can only wish the team, the stakeholders and the industry the very best of luck for the future. The Peak District and Derbyshire is a magnificent part of the country, and it has been my privilege to serve and represent it in the tourism sector.”

Source:Visit Peak District and Derbyshire

News that the government is planning to pump £10 million into promoting tourism in northern England has been given an enthusiastic welcome by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

The area’s official tourist board has praised proposals to create a coherent strategy for attracting more tourists to the area, announced today (Thursday 6th November) by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the Northern Futures Summit in Leeds.

The Peak District was one of a ‘cornucopia of attractions’ cited by Mr. Clegg, Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, which could be included in an initiative to lure tourists out of London to enjoy the North’s stunning countryside, history and culture.

Mr. Clegg revealed that ring-fenced cash from the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is set to be channelled into national tourist board Visit England, with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, from 2015. Like previous RGF campaigns, it will rely on match funding, bringing together resources from the public and private sectors.

David James, Chief Executive of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, hailed the announcement as ‘a beacon of hope that will help to put leading tourist destinations such as the Peak District and Derbyshire even more firmly on the map’.

“It has the potential to help key destinations such as ours build on work we have already done during the three-year RGF Growing Tourism Locally campaign – including our first-ever high-profile television commercial – to persuade tourists that there’s much more to England than just the many attractions in the capital,” he added.

“The Peak District and Derbyshire is the perfect countryside partner for many of the country’s great northern cities – ideally situated between Manchester and Sheffield and within easy reach of Liverpool and Leeds – so we will be extremely keen to get involved in Northern Futures to maximise future investment in and opportunities for tourism businesses across our area.

“Like VisitEngland, we are pleased that the Government rightly recognises tourism as a key driver of economic growth, generating wealth and supporting and creating jobs. In 2013, its value to the Peak District and Derbyshire economy was £1.8 billion and it supported 27,500 full-time equivalent jobs.*

“We look forward to working with VisitEngland, our public and private sector partners and co-operating with other tourism destinations to make the most of the benefits that Northern Futures is poised to bring.”

Twitter followers can nominate their favourite Peak District and Derbyshire hotspots and Seven Wonders of the North by joining the on-line discussion using #NorthernFutures.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire is one of 14 leading tourism destinations currently involved in the three-year RGF Growing Tourism Locally campaign. Research by VisitEngland reveals that it has so far generated more than £20.43 million in visitor spending, equating to 380 full-time equivalent jobs, in the Peak District and Derbyshire.

Source:Visit Peak District & Derbyshire