Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore visited the Rye Heritage Centre and the Mermaid Inn on Monday at the start of English Tourism Week to show support for the tourist season ahead and to hear about current challenges within the industry.
The theme of this year’s English Tourism Week, run by Visit England, is Supporting People and Places and focusses on the need to build year-round resilience in the visitor economy. For Rye, of particular importance is the continuing need to invest in skills development enabling young people to begin careers in the industry.
Judith Blincow, owner of The Mermaid Inn talked about their long-held policy of “home grown” talent when it comes to staff – working with local schools and colleges and creating career pathways for young people in the area. Tourism and hospitality is often overlooked as a career, in part, because the industry lacks training and investment, but with the right skills development can offer huge opportunities – employees of the Mermaid past and present are testament to that.
Simon Parsons, manager of Rye Heritage Centre spoke of the challenges faced. The centre is proud of the growth it has achieved and its work on future proofing the attraction thanks to an exceptional team of volunteer staff. However, the current climate means that visitor numbers can never be taken for granted and that lack of predictability means financial uncertainty for an organisation funded solely on ticket sales and donations.
Both talked to Helena about the need for international rail services to be returned to Ashford to help drive tourism in the region. Ms Dollimore made clear that this is a priority.
Most recent statistics from Tourism South East show that 13.50 million trips were made to the 1066 region in 2022, with £451.4 million spent by tourists during their visits. The visitor economy in the region supports 12,206 jobs.
Sarah Broadbent, Rye representative for destination marketing organisation 1066 Country Marketing said: “Rye and surrounds offers a wonderful visitor experience, rich in landscape, history, arts and culture, but as with many coastal and rural communities that depend on the visitor economy – its seasonal nature is our biggest challenge. We wholeheartedly support Visit England’s call to invest in robust, year-round destinations. Our exceptional tourism businesses deserve to thrive and we want our town’s young people to have career opportunities, building in that resilience for Rye as a place to visit twelve-months of the year.”
Image Credits: Sarah Broadbent .
Many thanks to Helena, Simon and Judith.
Two thoughts to ensure continuing growth:- reopen Ashford International Station and reverse Brexit!
Reverse Brexit first, then the reopening of Ashford International will surely follow!