VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has reported the success of the first English Tourism Week. 

The national initiative was designed to raise the profile and importance of tourism, and showcase the value of the industry to both local communities and the economy.

Over 400 special events and promotions took place between Saturday 10th and Sunday 18th March, from afternoon teas and cake baking competitions, to special guided walks and art exhibitions.

English Tourism Week was launched with the exciting announcement that HRH the Prince of Wales will be the event’s patron for the next year.

Throughout the week, tourism operators up and down the country got involved by putting on special events and activity aimed at reminding local residents of the fantastic wealth of tourism experiences on their doorstep, and encouraging them to become local ambassadors for their home town.

The week saw the national tourist board’s announcement of findings from a major survey into the value of day visits to the economy.

The research revealed that GB residents took 1.5billion tourism day trips in the UK in 2011, spending £54 billion; in England, Brits took 1.3billion trips, spending £44 billion

To highlight English Tourism Week, VisitEngland teamed up with the Daily Mirror to find England’s first ever Tourism Superstar – someone who goes the extra mile to make breaks in England extra special. 

On Saturday March 10th, the winner was announced as Newcastle cabbie, Alan Fidler; Fidler will receive his accolade at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in Leicester on May 22nd.

The packed week concluded with Lady Cobham and chairman of English Tourism Week, David Curtis-Brignell, joining prime minister at an English Tourism Week networking event in his constituency of Witney, Oxfordshire (pictured above).

Cameron highlighted the importance of the tourism industry in driving the economy, as the country’s third-largest export.