MP to push stakeholders to take on tourism role
Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer will be joining the effort to ensure the city’s crucial tourism economy is supported after the county’s industry body folded.
The dust is still settling after collapse of Destination Lincolnshire last week with local councils, including City of Lincoln, and other organisations waiting to assess the fall out.
“I’m disappointed to see the closure of Destination Lincolnshire. Tourism plays a vital role in Lincoln’s economy—supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and showcasing our city’s rich heritage to visitors from across the UK and beyond,” said the MP.
“I hope we can bring the relevant partners together to find a constructive way forward that protects the future of our tourism sector. I’ll be pushing for engagement of local stakeholders to ensure this issue is given the attention it deserves.”
Destination Lincolnshire was a Local Visitor Economy Partnership and its members received a statement informing them that the organisation, which covered Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, had ceased trading ‘following a period of financial difficulty’.
The staff, which were based at The Lawn complex on Union Road, were made redundant with immediate effect with board members staying in place for the handover to liquidators.
The organisation, which originally started as Visit Lincoln, had been unable to make enough money to cover its costs.
Cllr Joshua Wells, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth said last week: “City of Lincoln Council remains absolutely committed to supporting Lincoln’s tourism offer and the visitor economy sector. As part of Lincoln’s Town Fund programme, Destination Lincolnshire created a new website for Visit Lincoln and helped deliver an award-winning cultural programme including the very successful Lincoln Lights project earlier this year.
“The council already directly delivers the Visitor Information Service from Castle Square and a varied events programme throughout the year. We must now await the outcome of the liquidation process before establishing our next steps and seeking a way to continue our support of Lincoln’s vital tourism offer.”