Tourism pledge as board folds
Tourism remains as a top priority in the West Midlands, it was claimed today after the winding up of the Heart of England Tourist Board with the loss of 40 jobs.
The region's independent voice of tourism for nearly 40 years will go in a reorganisation.
The board, based in Worcester but serving all the region, blamed lack of support for the decision to cease trading at the end of March next year. Chairman Sir William Lawrence, pictured, said it would be wound down.
Over the next six to nine months employees will be made redundant in stages.
"We have been going for a long time, but if organisations are not willing to give their support then it makes it impossible to continue," said Sir William. Chief executive David Moyser said regional development agency Advantage West Midlands had decided not to renew its contract with the board to deliver a range of regional tourism marketing and support activities.
"Since then, we have continued to offer the public and private sector a range of services, including research, training, membership and publications on a commercial basis.
"This decision has been made based on the current and predicted future uptake of the board offer by the tourism industry, and associated support from the public sector."
Tourism is being promoted through AWM and its strategic tourism body, Tourism West Midlands, via a number of projects. It has a key attractions group including the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Zoo and Castle and Severn Valley Railway.
It said it intends to publicise these and others as tourism brings billions of pounds into the West Midlands and supports tens of thousands of jobs, and AWM wants this figure to grow and grow.
"It is a major part of our economy, but we want it to get bigger and bigger. Tourism West Midlands is relatively new, but it is intended to provide a properly co-ordinated voice, a powerful voice on a local, national and international level," said AWM's Neil Skitt.
