MORE must be done to help tourism in the region, according to MPs.
Tourism Minister John Penrose came under pressure in the Commons over the coalition’s decision to axe the award-winning Passionate People, Passionate Places campaign promoting the North East.
Berwick’s Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith said: “Is the tourism minister aware that because One North East did all its tourism promotion work in-house it fell foul of the Government’s advertising ban, and that there is currently no promotion of the fantastic attractions of Northumberland?
“Will he work to ensure that a business-led alternative can get into place quickly?”
Mr Penrose said he was aware of the problem, adding: “There are isolated examples of such issues in different parts of the country.”
He urged Sir Alan to speak to a “transition team” at tourism body VisitEngland and, if necessary, its chief executive as well as himself.
North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones said: “The minister might consider the failure of North East tourism to be able to promote itself – a failure caused by the cuts that this Government have imposed – to be an isolated problem, but it is a real problem in the North East.”
The Labour MP added: “If he takes the trouble to visit the North East, I am sure that an array of critics in the North East tourism industry, including the National Trust, will make their feelings well known to him.”
Mr Penrose said: “As I hope I have made clear, I am aware of the issues. I would be delighted to come to visit some of the North East’s impressive tourism attractions, including such places as Holy island and many others. I would love to do that in due course.”
Meanwhile, North East firms must do better if they want to win contracts for the London Games, says the Olympics Minister. Hugh Robertson also dismissed warnings from Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery that it was “disgraceful” that companies from the region have been awarded less than 1% of contracts for the 2012 Games.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Lavery said: “The Government claim that the Olympic games would benefit the whole of the UK.
“Does the minister agree that the 0.17% of contracts awarded to firms in the North East is absolutely disgraceful and another kick in the teeth for the region?”
Mr Robertson said: “No, I would not, because all such contracts have to be competed for on a commercial basis, and there are strict rules that govern that.
“What firms in those parts of the country should be doing is putting in competitive contracts because many of those contracts have been awarded to British firms.”
Speaking later, Mr Lavery said: “I am sick of the way this region is being treated. There are companies in the North East, which could be of enormous value to promoting the Olympic Games.
“And it looks very much as if they have been discounted because of the region where we live.”
