A strategy to support the recovery and growth of the tourism and leisure industry has been published by the council.
The North Lanarkshire Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2022 – 2026 sets out how the council will work in partnership with local, regional and national agencies to help local businesses recover from the covid-19 pandemic.
It aims to ensure that by 2026 North Lanarkshire is a sustainable tourist destination offering a range of experiences for visitors which provide value for money and are accessible to all.
“The tourism sector has been hugely impacted by the pandemic, with visitor numbers in 2020 down by 72% compared to the year before,” said Councillor Allan Graham, Convener of the Enterprise and Growth Committee.
“We consulted with tourism businesses as we developed this strategy, to make sure it addresses the challenges they’re facing and offers the support they need to move forward.
“So some of the areas we’re looking to improve include positive customer experiences, digital connectivity, accessibility, skills and training to encourage young people to work in the industry, reducing our carbon footprint and marketing the area to visitors from across the UK.
“The council’s investment in town centres and in our three country parks will also deliver improved facilities for residents and visitors, and we will build on our reputation for hosting large-scale sporting and other events, which attract thousands of people to the area.
“All this work will be done through VisitLanarkshire, in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, Business Gateway Lanarkshire, Visit Scotland and the many tourism and leisure businesses operating in North Lanarkshire, from museums and visitor attractions to hotels, guest houses and camping facilities.”
In 2019, the tourism sector was worth £215.20 million to the North Lanarkshire economy, welcoming 1.82 million visitors and employing over 3,000 people. Statistics from 2020 indicate these levels dropped to a value of £61.10 million, 505,150 visitors and 1,117 employed. (Source: Global Tourism Solutions: 2020).