Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with rural and coastal self-catering and tourism businesses in Torridge on promoting the sector.

DCMS recognises the vital contribution that tourism and self-catering businesses make to the UK economy, particularly in rural and coastal constituencies such as Torridge.

DCMS regularly engages with representatives from across the tourism sector, including those operating in rural and coastal areas, to understand their specific priorities and to support the continued growth of the visitor economy. A few weeks ago I was pleased to participate in a roundtable at Crealy’s Theme Park with representatives from the visitor economy in Devon, hosted by the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, where we discussed how the government can work with the industry to grow the sector.

DCMS also works closely with VisitBritain, VisitEngland, and Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), including the Devon LVEP, to ensure that the unique challenges and opportunities of coastal and rural tourism are reflected in national policy. We remain committed to working in partnership with the industry to promote the UK’s diverse tourism offering and to ensure that areas like Devon continue to thrive as world-class destinations.