Round table to bring out best in tourism

RICHARD BATSON

A new group is being formed to give a voice to north Norfolk's vitally-important tourism industry.

A Tourism Round Table aims to bring together businesses ranging from small gift shops to big caravan parks to tackle issues which concern them.

Tourism creates 7,000 jobs and generates about £357m for the economy in north Norfolk, which provides 40pc of the county's holiday bed spaces.

The Round Table has been launched by the North Norfolk Business Forum, whose chairman Ian Doughty said tourism was vitally important, but there were “significant areas of development which required a concerted effort.”

Marketing, training and quality issues were among the areas being tackled by the forum, which is being chaired by Debbie Thompson, who is on the forum's executive committee.

She said: “We want to ensure tourism has a voice in north Norfolk - in a group which is open for the smallest to the biggest businesses.”

Marketing was one area they would be assessing, but it was down to businesses themselves to raise other issues.

The Round Table will be launched on September 5, with help from local councillor Hilary Nelson, who is also the chairman of the British Resorts and Destinations Association, and Peter Piper the headlining comic of Cromer's Seaside Special show.

It precedes the first of a series of roadshows taking the Round Table around the district, in drop-in sessions aimed to helping local businesses access the emerging group.

The sessions are at:

Sheringham, Burlington Hotel, September 5, 11.30am-1pm.

North Walsham, Community Centre, September 11, 5pm-7pm

Cromer, Merchants' Place, September 13, 5pm-7pm

Stalham, Town Hall, September 18, 5pm-7pm

Wells, Maltings, September 20, 5pm-7pm

Holt, Community Centre, September 24, 5pm-7pm

Fakenham, Racecourse, October 11, 7pm-9pm

For more information visit www.nnbf.org