News

.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

22 March 2007

 

Last week was British Tourism Week.

Tourism is Britain’s 5th largest industry. It is worth £74 billion and employs an estimated 2.1 million people in the UK – more jobs than construction or transport. Last year the industry generated over £15 billion in export earnings from over 31 million overseas visitors. And overseas and domestic visitors paid £12.7 billion in tax to the Exchequer in 2005 – enough to pay for 30,000 nurses.

Tourism is obviously important for Shepway. Although the one or two week bucket and spade holiday is in steep decline there are many other tourism opportunities which we can exploit. We have a wonderful coastline, magnificent scenery, the very special character of Romney Marsh and a rich heritage.

So I am delighted to take advantage of British Tourism Week to visit some of the tourist businesses in the constituency.

Together with Damian Collins I started at Coxell House in Lydd where Robin Francis and Maggie Brown run a very successful bed and breakfast operation. Their Grade II listed 17th Century house is a very convenient base from which to explore and enjoy all Romney Marsh has to offer.

We then drove to the other end of the constituency to Great Field Farm at Misling Lane, Stelling Minnis where Malcolm and Lewana Castle offer a variety of accommodation in their very spacious farmhouse and its new annexe.

Next stop was Garden Lodge, Densole. Sue Cooper’s guesthouse has space and facilities, including a large solar heated swimming pool, which are far more extensive than might be expected at first sight.

Finally we visited the Black Horse Farm Caravan Club site which is large and obviously extremely popular and well used.

Tourism in Shepway is not without its challenges. But there are clearly many enterprises, large and small, which are rising to those challenges and taking full advantage of the opportunities that are available. I wish them every success in their endeavours.