Local MP Alan Campbell today dropped in to Cullercoats Coffee to show his support for local businesses as part of English Tourism Week.

English Tourism Week was created to raise awareness of the size, value and importance of tourism to our local, regional and national economies and highlight the valuable contribution made by local businesses.

Alan said “I think it’s important that we celebrate the work of the industry and its importance to our local economy. There’s a real sense of excitement about the coast at the moment. Investment in Whitley Bay is almost coming to fruition with the Dome set to open very soon and small independent businesses including micro-pubs and restaurants choosing to set up in the town. Tynemouth was last week voted the best place to live in the North by the Sunday Times and in Cullercoats, the ‘Cullerfornia’ campaign, started by local businesses is creating a real buzz.

Not only does it make our area a great place to live and work, let’s not forget tourism is worth £3.4bn a year to the North East and employs 63,000 people so it’s clearly also a great place to visit.