Tourism Impact in the North East
In March 2002 TBR, in conjunction with Cogent SI based in Dumfries, were awarded a contract by One NorthEast, the Regional Development Agency for the North East of England, to develop a robust methodology through which to assess the economic impact of tourism within the region that will act as a pilot study for future studies elsewhere in England.
This is the partial text of the Press Release issued by One North East on 5th November. Follow the links below to access the report.
Minister Unveils New Research to Lead Tourism Recovery
A bold new plan to boost the North East’s £1.8bn tourism industry will be based on ground-breaking research confirming its importance to the regional economy.
Minister for Tourism Dr Kim Howells will today reveal the results of a tourism impact study - the most accurate and detailed survey ever carried out into the economic effects of visitors to the North East.
Leading the way for all other Regional Development Agencies, One NorthEast partnered the Department for Culture Media and Sport in commissioning the study which is the first of its type to be attempted in the UK.
The study reveals:
- Around 50,000 jobs are supported by tourism in the North East with another 50,000 jobs relying on its economic spin offs
- These 100,000 jobs total nearly 10% of the regional workforce
- Tourism is currently valued at £1.8bn and directly accounts for 3.5% of the North East’s economy
- A further 6% of the Region’s economy is supported by tourism spin offs
One NorthEast and Northumbria Tourist Board are setting an ambitious target that within the next 100 days they will work with other regional partners and stakeholders to put in place a framework to deliver a new Strategy and Action Plan from next April onwards
This coincides with One NorthEast taking over responsibility for the strategic development of tourism next year.
The findings of the pilot study have caused considerable attention from around the country.
The model has been designed so that it can be used equally effectively in other regions to provide national consistency.
Dr John Bridge, One NorthEast chairman, said:
“The headline figures for the North East highlighted what has been assumed but in the past not accurately measured; that the indirect impacts of tourism are equally as important as the direct.
“With this new information to hand, we can be confident in moving forward to bring about a step change in the industry to meet its full potential.”
Notes to Editors
- Leading the way for all other Regional Development Agencies, One NorthEast in partnership with the Department for Culture Media and Sport, commissioned the new type of impact study which produces a picture of the economic benefits brought by tourism that is more accurate and detailed than previously achieved. Based on recommended EU methodology for Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs) the study, which was conducted by consultants Trends Business Research and Cogentsi, is the first of this nature which has been attempted in the UK.
- The methodology estimates the value of tourism from both the demand side (ie expenditure on tourism) and from the supply side, (ie the output of the tourism economy and the incomes generated).
- The methodology section of the report is intended to be transferable across regions, and has the potential to provide a degree of national consistency, and to allow robust comparisons within and across the regions of the UK. The other English RDAs have been awaiting with interest the outcome of this study and it is hoped that they will be keen to build on what has been achieved.
