Visit Herts Awarded New LVEP Status
Visit Herts has been awarded the new, enhanced status of ‘Local Visitor Economy Partnership’ by VisitEngland – the Government’s official tourism agency for England.
Herts is one of 15 destinations across the country that have been awarded the new status. The creation of these new partnerships is part of the Government’s strategy to better support and grow the visitor economy in England by reducing fragmentation and bringing coherence to the landscape. Not only this, but to also help local and national government deliver their priorities and targets on issues such as climate change, accessibility and inclusion.
Deirdre Wells OBE, CEO of Visit Herts said: ‘We are very pleased to have been awarded this new status particularly as Visit Hertfordshire was only launched in 2015. I believe that this is a testament to the strong support and partnerships we have in place for the visitor economy across the county. It is our hope that this new scheme will make the management of the visitor economy in Hertfordshire and across the rest of England even more efficient, collaborative and cost-effective and ultimately deliver a better service across the board for domestic and international visitors and the private sector businesses that work so hard to deliver fantastic and memorable experiences.’
The new LVEP structure means that there is a direct line of sight between Visit Herts and the Government and VisitBritain/VisitEngland which will be hugely beneficial. Through this structure Visit Herts will have access to support that will further strengthen the sector specific support and leadership it provides for tourism businesses in Hertfordshire.
The LVEP status provides a hallmark for the county, showcasing the strength of Hertfordshire’s visitor economy and ensures that our tourism industry continues to be represented at a national level.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: ‘VisitEngland is delighted to welcome onto the programme the new LVEPs, who will play a central role in transforming the visitor economy in England in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way. Ensuring we have the right national and local infrastructure in place to grow our visitor economy will ensure England continues to be a compelling destination, for both domestic and international visitors, for years to come.’