Tories back down over North East tourism spending row

Jun 27 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

THE Conservatives have backed down after a top spokesman suggested cutting crucial funding for the region’s £4bn tourism industry.

Senior party spokesman Tobias Ellwood, who holds the party’s shadow tourism portfolio, had implied the budget for promoting the North East as a place to visit was up to seven times too high. But last night Mr Ellwood promised the Conservatives “would do nothing to threaten the region’s success”.

And despite his pronouncement on tourism spending in the North East, he said it remained Conservative policy to “help the UK’s tourism industry get back on its feet after a decade of neglect”.

The Bournemouth MP was also quick to clarify his position in regard to regional development agencies (RDAs).

The House of Commons heard he believed the agencies, including One North East, were not necessarily best placed to decide how to spend tourism cash, but he yesterday praised the agency as conducting “excellent work”.

Speaking to The Journal, Mr Ellwood said: “The structure of the tourism industry at the moment means that One North East competes directly with RDAs up and down the country, so instead of being able to capitalise on its investment in tourism, much of its funding is wasted crossing over with the work of other areas in the UK.

“Even with less support from the Government and the odd structure for promoting tourism in the UK, the region’s fantastic visitor attractions have still pulled in visitors. International attractions like Durham Cathedral, the Sage Gateshead, where the Conservative Party held its Spring Conference last year, and the Discovery Museum and Hadrian’s Wall have all seen around half a million visitors a year.