Last updated at 11:32, Tuesday, 13 October 2009

CUMBRIA County Council is proud to support the Business Awards for Best Tourism Attraction or Project.

Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for economic development said: “Tourism is a vital plank in our economy and new and innovative tourism businesses really make a difference by bringing variety and vitality to Cumbria.

Not only are we privileged with having world-class attractions such as the Lake District National Park, part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Hadrian’s Wall, but we also have a wealth of creative and dedicated individuals and businesses providing tourism attractions that pull people in from all over the globe.

The quality of food and drink produced here is a major draw; and our reputation as the adrenalin capital of the country is building all the time.

The recent and successful inaugural Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships just shows what we can offer.

And once they’ve arrived, people often realise that there’s more to Cumbria than they first thought.

Many of the county’s most innovative tourist enterprises are in the places you’d least expect them: often celebrating the area’s industrial heritage rather than its undoubted natural beauty.

I’m proud of Cumbria and proud to support businesses which demonstrate to the rest of country and the world just what a fantastic place Cumbria is.

First published at 13:32, Monday, 12 October 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk