The Tourism Expo, leaflet swap and much more on Monday 30 March has been cancelled
This year we had planned a series of talks, workshops, and food and drink tastings across the day plus the opportunity to network, have a cuppa with friends and sample some scones from the award winning cream tea at Jemima’s Kitchen.
Due to social distancing and the restriction on gatherings we have cancelled the event. However we have a lovely programme that we hope may be enacted at another date. We are also discussing ways that we might distribute current year information for when tourism picks up.
The working programme:
Current list of exhibitors
Historic Churches Trust
Bishop’s Castle Town Hall
Tenbury photographer
Wood Brewery
Ludlow Farm Shop
Leominster Tourist Information Centre
Shropshire Festivals
Dakin Events
Visit Shropshire
Tenbury Wells open for business
Tenbury Tourist information centre
Church Stretton Town Council
Mayflower Trust
The Grain Loft
Oswestry Borderlands tourism
Bishops Castle Open Studios
Local to Ludlow
Wheely Wonderful Cycling
Visit Shropshire Hills
Slow Travel Shropshire
Big turnout for Shropshire Hills Tourism Expo at Ludlow Castle
20 March 2018
Over 100 local tourism businesses turned out in force to swap leaflets and ideas at Ludlow Castle to start the new tourism season off with a swing.
The Expo was organised by Paul Davis chair of Shropshire Hills Tourism, said “This is an annual event for our Shropshire Hills tourism group, it’s a great opportunity for tourism businesses to find out about all the new attractions and activities for visitors, and make sure that they have stocks of leaflets for their guests. We had a great selection of “breakout” talks for our visitors about local tourism issues too.”
The talks covered subjects like; how to maximise the tourism benefits of the Ludlow Food Festival on Facebook, Where to go Stargazing, and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Shropshire Hills AONB. The grand finale was a guided tour of Ludlow Castle by Ludlow Castle’s resident archaeologist; Leon Bracelin.
The exhibitors at the event showed the sheer diversity of attractions that are available in the area to keep visitors and locals entertained. Arts in the Shropshire Hills were well represented with Bank House B&B in Bishops Castle launching its new Open Studios event, Bobby Britnell’s textile workshops, Church Stretton’s Arts Festival and stunning photography from Drone Rangers and Shropshire and Beyond. And for the active, there were great walks from Offa’s’ Dyke, The Shropshire Way and Bishops Castle’s walking festival. Wheely Wonderful Cycling was highlighting its new Slow Food Cycle Tour and local cycling maps and Oaker Wood were promoting their range of Easter activities. Together with exhibitions from Acton Scott, Shrewsbury Museum and Stokesay Court. All of these businesses can be found on the www.visitshropshirehills.co.uk, which has lots of new content about things to do for families at Easter and the rest of the year.
This was one of many events throughout the country to celebrate English Tourism Week. Tourism is a huge industry – bringing in £257 billion nationally (10% of GDP, with 3.8 million jobs. Its big business in Shropshire too, tourism is worth £539 million to Shropshire’s economy every year and supports nearly 15,000 jobs in the county.
Shropshire Hills Tourism, is keen to help keep tourism businesses up to date with new developments in the area. Paul Davis says, “if you are a tourism business and would like to join our group, we ‘d be very pleased to welcome you. We hold regular events for our members, so that they can network with each other and take part in familiarisation visits to new attractions, we also hold training sessions and of course advertise the county through our website and social media activity. Have a look at our website for details www.visitshropshirehills.co.uk”
Exhibitors included:
Oaker Wood Leisure
Local to Ludlow
Shropshire’s Great Outdoors, S.C. Countryside Dept
Shropshire & Beyond photography products
Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail
Leominster TIC
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
Eaton Manor
Ludlow Food Festival
Shropshire Hills AONB
Shropshire Hills Tourism
Shropshire Way
Bishops Castle Town Tours
Bishops Castle Walking Festival
Drone Rangers/Virtual Shropshire
Bobby Britnell, Textile Artist
Wheely Wonderful – Cycling & Walking Holidays
Shropshire HIlls Discovery Centre
Bishops Castle Open Studios
Acton Scott Historic Working Farm
County Signpost Magazine
Church Stretton Arts Festival
Church Stretton Town Council
English Heritage
Stokesay Court
