Celebrating a thriving industry for English Tourism Week

Published: 17 March 2023

English Tourism Week runs from 17 to 26 March and highlights an industry which brings around £450 million per year into Derby’s economy. It also celebrates the innovation, quality and range of products and services on offer to boost domestic breaks.

As an annual celebration of English tourism, the week highlights the importance, value and vast contribution the sector makes to the UK economy, raising its profile with key stakeholders including MPs and national Government.

Derby welcomes over eight million visitors to the city every year, with around £450 million spent in our hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions. Nationally, English tourism generated over £100 billion in 2019 and supported 2.6 million jobs. Tourism in England is a major employer of school leavers and young people, as well as an incubator for entrepreneurs and innovation. 

Visit Derby, Derby City Council’s tourism service, has applied to become part of the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) programme. This will create a national portfolio of strategic and high-performing LVEPs working in collaboration locally, regionally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to support and grow the visitor economy.

As well as achieving a nationally recognised official status, LVEPs will provide strong leadership and management of their destinations, working collaboratively with the public and private sectors. They will help to shape and deliver national strategy and activities. Their important role will be promoted across Government and national agencies, ensuring the local visitor economy is an active and valued contributor to Levelling Up and the wider economy.

In April, Visit Derby will be launching a new website with improved design and functionality to boost tourism and promote the city area as a world-leading destination for short breaks and day trips. The website has been designed to offer a quality user experience across desktop, mobile and tablet and showcase local businesses – including accommodation providers, events, shopping, attractions, and places to eat and drink.

The new design will inspire visitors to stay for longer, explore the city and spend more money in the local economy.  As well as a marketing tool for attracting visitors to Derby, the website also supports local businesses in what is an increasingly competitive global marketplace, by allowing them to come together to showcase the full breadth of the city’s offer including the proximity to Derbyshire and the Peak District.

To help put Derby on the map as a visitor destination, Visit Derby has been successful in applying for £100,000 in funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This will be used to help develop products, build promotional assets and deliver campaigns to support businesses and increase footfall.

Stella Birks, Visitor Services and Development Manager, said:

Derby has some real gems for visitors such as the renowned Museum of Making, our beautiful city parks, and range of independent café bars and restaurants. As a city our potential is growing, and by becoming an LVEP, and with the backing of our UKSPF funding, this will only develop more.

For further information, see the Visit Derby website.

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