§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what initiatives the English tourist board has planned on sustainable tourism; and how many of these are likely to be implemented.
§ Mr. DorrellThe English tourist board participates in various on-going local visitor management initiatives in different types of location across the country. Many of these received pump-priming funding from the English tourist board and are continuing with the support of local funding partners. One example of these is the Wiltshire project which seeks to spread the economic benefits of tourism across 'the county more evenly and ease pressure on locations like Avebury and Stonehenge. The new visitor opportunities in Wiltshire will be tailored to its special landscape and character.
In addition the English tourist board regularly meets and collaborates with bodies such as Countryside Commission and the Rural Development Commission. It has supported the production of a range of publications designed to encourage good environmental practice and policies within the tourism industry. The English tourist board was one of the sponsors of the document, "Getting it Right: a guide to visitor management in historic towns", published earlier this year by the English Historic Towns Forum.