Committees

Rural tourism in England inquiry

Inquiry

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee launches an inquiry into the role of tourism in supporting rural growth in England. Rural Tourism provides around £17 billion a year to the English economy. But rural communities face some particular challenges to tourism growth such as transport connections, restrictions to broadband access and seasonal employment.

Although England has seen a rise in tourism spend in the past year from both domestic and international visitors, figures published by Visit England show that in 2014 just 18% of domestic overnight trips were taken to rural areas, down from 22% in 2012. Over 50% of international spend was in London. The inquiry will look into a number of matters relating to supporting rural growth.

Reports, special reports and government responses

No reports or special reports published.

Correspondence

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Correspondence with Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to rural tourism in England
Inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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29 March 2017
Inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry
Witnesses Dr Manon Antoniazzi, Director, Culture, Sport and Tourism, Gerwyn Evans, Head of Tourism Development, Welsh Government, Bettina Sizeland, Deputy Director, Tourism and Major Events and Richard Walsh, Senior Tourism Policy Advisor, Scottish Government; Kim Mears, Managing Director, Infrastructure Delivery, BT Openreach, Andrew Field, Superfast Broadband Programme Director, Broadband Delivery UK, Professor Barry Forde, Chief Executive, Broadband for the Rural North Ltd, and David Broom, Head of Business Development, WiSpire Ltd (at 3.15pm).
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Oral Evidence
25 January 2017
Inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry
Witnesses Paul Forecast, Director, Eastern England, National Trust, Martin Lane, Director, Cotswold Conservation Board, Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive, Peak District National Park AuthorityKate Conto, Senior Policy Officer, The Ramblers, Roger Geffen, Director, Cycling UK, Mark Weston, Director of Access, British Horse Society
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Oral Evidence
11 January 2017
Inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry
Witnesses Councillor Julian German, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Culture, Cornwall Council, John Mortimer, Chair of Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Councillor Paul Bettison, Deputy Chair, Local Government Association, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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BT Openreach (RUT0313)
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National Trust (RUT0310)
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Ofcom (RUT0311)
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Other publications

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Contact us

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  • Email: efracom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: General enquiries: 0207 219 1119 | Press enquiries: 020 7219 3138
  • Address: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA