House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Tourism: Northumberland

19 November 2024 · 3 other contributors · 7,564 words

Opened by Joe Morris Lab Hexham

Responding minister: Chris Bryant

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Joe Morris raised concerns about tourism: northumberland in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

The MP is concerned about the disparity in tourism numbers and spending between Northumberland and London.
The MP asks for increased investment in transport infrastructure and better funding for heritage protection.
The Minister acknowledged Northumberland's rich cultural heritage and highlighted plans for a destination development partnership in Newcastle.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks for increased investment in transport infrastructure to handle an influx of tourists without disrupting local residents. He advocates for better funding for heritage protection and collaboration with organisations like Visit Northumberland to promote the region internationally. The Government should also support initiatives that address skills shortages, such as apprenticeships and educational reforms.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Joe Morris Lab Hexham

The MP is concerned about the disparity in tourism numbers and spending between Northumberland and London. He mentions that while Northumberland has a rich history, with attractions like Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda, it still lags behind other regions in tourist visits and spending. The constituency also faces challenges such as road congestion during peak times, preservation of historical sites under threat from climate change, and skills shortages affecting the hospitality sector.

Other contributors (3)

Emma Foody Lab Co-op Cramlington and Killingworth

Tourism is a vital industry in Cramlington and Killingworth, contributing over £1 billion annually and attracting over 10 million visitors each year. Emma highlighted the importance of local attractions such as Seaton Sluice beach, Holywell Dene walks, Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberlandia land sculpture, and the Harbour View fish and chip shop. She emphasised the role of friendly locals in making tourism thrive.
Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Cheltenham

He congratulated the hon. Member for securing the debate and highlighted his recent visit to Northumberland, praising its tourism attractions such as Hadrian's Wall and Bamburgh castle. He stressed that rebalancing tourism away from London is crucial and noted that Cheltenham welcomed 2 million visitors in 2022, supporting around 4% of local jobs. Wilkinson called for urgent action on the unfair business rates system to support small and medium-sized enterprises.
Saqib Bhatti Con Meriden and Solihull East

The hon. Member thanked Joe Morris for securing the debate, recognising Northumberland's tourism industry contribution to the UK economy, noting a £1.262 billion gross value contribution in 2023 with over 10 million visitors. He questioned the new Government's support plan and called for specific strategies to shift towards year-round tourism and address challenges related to national insurance contributions impacting hospitality businesses.

Government Response

Chris Bryant

Welcomed contributions to the debate and acknowledged Northumberland's rich cultural heritage. Discussed challenges such as promoting lesser-known regions, seasonal staffing issues, and short-term lets. Highlighted plans for a destination development partnership in Newcastle aimed at enhancing hospitality services across the region. Emphasised the need for long-term strategies to boost tourism across the UK.