Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Norfolk Mps Commit to Broads Quality Pledge - English Tourism Week



A host of Norfolk MPs have given their support to top quality sustainable tourism in the Broads in an event at Westminster marking the start of English Tourism Week.

Broads businesses Hoseasons, Norfolk Broads Direct, Wroxham Barns and The Waterside Rollesby headed to Parliament on Tuesday, March 13, armed with Broads Tourism’s Quality Pledge. The Broads is one of four pathfinder destinations selected by VisitEngland for special promotion to ensure they gain international recognition as great holiday areas.

The meeting with five of the county’s MPs (Norman Lamb, Brandon Lewis, Keith Simpson, Richard Bacon and Chloe Smith) was organised by Broads Tourism to promote their drive to improve quality in the area. The MPs were presented with a virtual hamper of experiences at the Broads businesses and demonstrated their commitment to the Broads by signing the Broads Tourism Forum’s Quality Pledge. Norwich South MP Simon Wright has also signed, although he was unable to attend the meeting.

Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk said: “We are very lucky in Norfolk to be home to such a wonderful destination as the Broads. Whenever I tell anyone about the constituency I represent, I always talk about the beauty of the Broads. Tourism is hugely important to jobs in the area and I am pleased to see businesses working together to promote what the Broads has to offer.”

Keith Simpson, MP for Broadland said: “As someone who has enjoyed the Broads since I was a child and who now represents part of this important area of Norfolk I warmly endorse the Broads Quality Pledge. The Norfolk Broads combines a wonderful natural environment with a healthy tourism business which is crucial for those who live and work there. Hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy the Norfolk Broads and we want to encourage them to return.”

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North said: “Norwich and Norfolk are wonderful places. I grew up in Norfolk and would recommend visiting the Broads to anyone for a myriad of reasons. Norwich is the gateway to the Broads and welcomes you with a great and cultured city in beautiful surroundings. Tourism is important to many jobs in our city and county and it is a winning sector.”

Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth said: “Norfolk has a brilliant location for tourism. The Broads are one of Britain’s greatest treasures; it is an incredibly beautiful and inspiring eco-system. I would recommend the Broads to anyone wanting to go holiday.”

Simon Wright, MP for Norwich South said: "I'm very pleased to support the Broads Tourism quality pledge. I urge local businesses to sign up and work together to get the maximum benefit of being based in one of the most attractive parts of the country."

Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk said: “Tourism is so important for our county and the Broads are not just the jewel in Norfolk’s crown, but also a magnet for holiday makers who are looking for something different. We are rightly proud of the Broads and I am delighted to sign Broads Tourism’s Quality Pledge”.

Barbara Greasley, Chair Broads Tourism and Director Norfolk Broads Direct said:
“We are passionate about ensuring our visitors have the best possible holiday experience in the Broads and were delighted when Visit England gave the area a boost, by selecting us to be one of only four Pathfinder Destinations in the country. The support of our local MPs is vital as we continue to develop and improve the Broads as a top quality sustainable holiday destination.”

John Dalgleish, General Manager Holiday Boating, The Hoseasons Group said: “Hoseasons continues to be the largest UK domestic specialist holiday company. An important part of this is the Broads, as it’s a magical place that continues to remain one of the top UK holiday destinations for our customers. More than 150,000 of our customers enjoy the Broads annually, returning year after year. This is thanks to a combination of the unique natural environment, high standards of accommodation and innovative owners, who continue to play a key role in meeting consumer demand for new and exciting ways to explore the area.”

“We are fully committed to Broads Tourism’s quality pledge,“ added John Dalgleish, “and encourage all Broads businesses to sign up and work to make Britain’s Magical Waterland the best holiday destination in the UK.”

Photograph: With the Broads quality pledge at Westminster left to right are: Belinda Minors The Waterside Rollesby, Barbara Greasely Norfolk Broads Direct, James Berresford Chief Executive VisitEngland, John Dalgleish Hoseasons, Norman Lamb MP, Brandon Lewis MP, Richard Bacon MP, Keith Simpson MP, Chloe Smith MP, Clare Weller Broads Authority and Ian Russell Wroxham Barns.

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