Grand Depart offers a great opportunity
Date published: 08 November 2013
HOLDING next year’s Grand Depart of the Tour de France in northern England offers the Pennines areas of Oldham and Rochdale a great opportunity to promote long-term tourism.
That was one of the messages to 100 delegates at a conference held by the Pennine Prospects regeneration company in Rochdale.
Presentations focused on rural tourism, business and social opportunities in the areas bordering Lancashire and West Yorkshire which lie outside the high-profile national parks which enjoy strong visitor numbers.
Paul Osborne, from transport group Sustrans, said the south Pennines could benefit greatly from next year’s visit of the Tour de France cycle race. He said cyclists groups and events already play a significant part in the area’s economy.
Yorkshire is hosting the Grand Depart over two stages on July 5 and 6. The first route takes in Leeds, Harrogate, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and York. The second stage goes through the south Pennines including the towns of Keighley, Hebden Bridge, Elland, Huddersfield and Holmfirth, passing close to Saddleworth, then on to Sheffield.
Jason Freezer, from the Visit England tourist board, said: “Tourism grows by 5 per cent each year and employs more people in rural areas than agriculture.
“The south Pennines area should be marketed as a distinct destination and, as part of that, a management plan should be drawn up.”
Pennine Prospects was set up in 2005 to promote the south Pennines, which straddles numerous political and county boundaries, in a more unified way.
Pam Warhurst, chairman of Pennine Prospects, sent out a rallying call to put the south Pennines region on the tourist map.
She said: “It is a vibrant, people’s landscape. We have a distinct heritage that is inspirational to many and attracts people from around the world. We have fantastic countryside for everybody including walkers, cyclists and horse riders.”
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