Project aims to boost Lancashire tourism

Marketing Lancashire, the county’s destination and place marketing organisation, has invested in the major project in a bid to drive up visitor numbers.

It has appointed specialist research agency Tourism South East Research to carry out the work.

TSE has a strong reputation within the sector for its research work, which includes extensive experience of carrying out visitor research, across the public and private sector, including local authorities, regional and national agencies, accommodation and attractions.

It has conducted many county based visitor surveys and has a sound understanding of the tourism sector. Dr Parves Khan heads up the research team and has substantial experience in the design, management and application of socio-economic research.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “We’re confident that Tourism South East Research and Dr Khan, with their vast experience and credibility in the field of tourism research, will deliver robust and valuable intelligence on our visitors that will help Lancashire deliver its ambition to increase visitor numbers by seven million, over the next four years.

“This will be the most comprehensive and detailed county-wide visitor research for several years and we look forward to gaining a greater understanding of our current visitors and highlighting the opportunities that will help attract new visitors, to our wonderfully diverse county.”

The TSE research will include face-to-face surveys with a broad range of visitor types at locations across Lancashire this summer onwards.