LGA forecasts rapid growth in English tourism thanks to devolution

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said that English tourism is expected to soar under devolution deals, with data suggesting the tourist industry will grow 2.9 per cent per year over the next decade.

The LGA said that local areas should use the devolution agenda to turn their cities and counties into ‘thriving tourist hotspots’ to meet demand from the growing ’staycation’ market.

The latest industry figures show there was an 11 per cent increase in overnight trips in England in 2015, compared to the previous year, and an eight per cent increase in expenditure.

The data showed that regions which saw the biggest increase in overnight trips included the West Midlands (+22 per cent); Yorkshire (+20 per cent); the South West (+14 per cent); and London (+14 per cent).

The LGA has called on the government to keep up the momentum on agreeing devolution proposals on transport, infrastructure, skills and business support to boost tourism-led growth.

Ian Stephens, chair of the LGA's Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: "The tourist economy is one of the UK's fastest growing economic sectors and councils have the opportunity to align their devolved responsibilities to improve their tourism offer to best showcase their unique identity and heritage, from food and drink and natural landscape to historic buildings and traditional festivals.

"Local areas have already capitalised on recent tourism opportunities and councils can use devolution deals to improve transport, infrastructure, skills and business support, which are crucial levers to maximise the tourist pound and economic growth.

"Decisions about these critical success factors for boosting tourism are best taken at the local level, which devolution deals stand to make possible through combined authorities and similar local governance arrangements.

"The move to full localisation of business rates in 2020 means that it will be even more important for councils to support and attract tourism-related businesses, where this is a local growth priority.

"By creating the wider conditions for the visitor economy to thrive, local communities also benefit from a successful local visitor economy with an increased choice of facilities such as places to eat out, local shops, events and exhibitions, as well as conservation of local heritage and the natural landscape.”