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Visit Lincolnshire 'will not survive cuts'

The BBC has reported that Visit Lincolnshire, the group which promotes Lincolnshire's £1bn tourism industry, has said it is unlikely to survive funding cuts.

In the report, Visit Lincolnshire fears millions of pounds could be lost after the county council said it was reviewing funding.  The £270,000 it gets from the council, along with £400,000 from the axed East Midlands Development Agency, makes up 70% of its core funding.

The organisation said it attracted investment, but the council said it had been forced to take tough decisions.

Jon Grubb, chairman of Visit Lincolnshire, said: "I am astounded, baffled and disappointed by the decision to withdraw all of Visit Lincolnshire's funding.

"In essence, the county council has decided to close the county's tourism body yet seems to have no plan in place for how they will continue the task of encouraging ever more people to visit this fantastic county."

The director for development at Lincolnshire County Council, Richard Wills, said that in the current economic climate they had to decide carefully where to invest.

"We are saying the county council can invest in the product itself - around historic Lincoln, Boston, the waterways - we want to invest there.

"Then we want to help the industry market that, perhaps in different ways than through Visit Lincolnshire."

The proposal to withdraw funding will go out to public consultation in the new year before a decision is taken in February.

Editors Note:

We at the Lincolnshire Guide support all organisations that genuinely seek to assist people in visiting Lincolnshire without seeking to push them towards particular types of accommodation, attractions or events.  If you would like to support the Lincolnshire Tourism economy, please contact Lincolnshire County Council to show your support for Visit Lincolnshire and contact your local MP.  If you live in Lincolnshire, lobby your local County Councillor as well.

Article Published: 22/12/2010

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