Tourism: a critical driver of growth for businesses and the regional economy

While tourism directly benefits hospitality, retail and leisure businesses, its impact reaches much further. Visitors rely on local transport, use professional services, purchase regional products and contribute to the growth of creative and digital industries. When our visitor economy thrives, it creates a ripple effect that supports businesses of every size, from independent coffee shops to manufacturing firms supplying local attractions.

For many businesses, tourism provides a crucial revenue stream that can stabilise operations and enable long-term investment. Seasonal peaks often allow companies to hire additional staff, expand services or test new offerings. This activity doesn’t just benefit individual businesses but it strengthens the region’s overall economic resilience and encourages further entrepreneurial activity.

The wider value of tourism is also seen in the community. A thriving visitor economy encourages public and private investment in infrastructure, including transport and public spaces. These improvements enhance quality of life for residents while making the region more attractive to new businesses and skilled workers. In this way, tourism contributes directly to the region’s competitiveness.

As the sector evolves, there is growing demand for skilled workers across hospitality management, digital marketing, events, sustainability, customer experience and more. This presents significant opportunities for training and upskilling, ensuring businesses can recruit and retain the talent they need to deliver world-class visitor experiences.

Supporting tourism isn’t just about promoting destinations; it’s about strengthening the foundations of our regional economy. By investing in skills, innovation and collaboration within the visitor economy, we can help businesses grow, create new opportunities for local people and showcase everything our region has to offer.