Efforts to boost tourism at home have been backed by Oxfordshire MPs, who urged the public to experience the best of what the county can offer and support local businesses.

Politicians visited tourism organisations in their constituencies for Visit England’s English Tourism Week, which aimed to promote tourism businesses and destinations as they reopen and start to rebuild. County activities were led by local group Experience Oxfordshire.

MPs also joined a discussion on the importance of the visitor economy to Oxfordshire, the severe impact the pandemic has had on the sector and the support needed for recovery.

Witney MP Robert Courts met staff at Heythrop Park Resort at Enstone. He said: “Hotel and conferencing venues have been severely impacted by the pandemic and I was delighted to see in place all the safety and hygiene protocols that this property has undertaken to welcome guests back.

“This is a stunning property and a great reason to visit Oxfordshire. I would like to thank Experience Oxfordshire for managing the extensive programme of activity this week as business engagement in the locality is extremely important to me.”

Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive of Experience Oxfordshire, said: “We have been delighted to see so much political engagement locally from MPs across Oxfordshire. It has been a challenging time for the travel and tourism sector and the week was a chance to raise the profile of the sector and our businesses. It has given the opportunity for our partners to engage with MPs and talk directly about the issues facing them and the support required.

“Experience Oxfordshire will continue to champion our sector to national and local government and support businesses as we move through recovery. We are all looking forward to the visitor economy thriving again in the future as we welcome locals and visitors back to Oxfordshire.”

This article appeared in the Witney Gazette on 31.05.21 and can be read in full here.