Tour guide claims tourism chiefs want to keep Ribble Valley a 'secret' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Tour guide claims tourism chiefs want to keep Ribble Valley a 'secret'

7:00pm Monday 23rd March 2009 in News By Ben Briggs

CLAIM: Simon Entwistle

A RENOWNED tour guide has accused Ribble Valley Council of failing to promote the area as a major UK tourist destination.

Simon Entwistle, who runs Top Hat Tours and is famous for his ghost walks, claims that the council wants the area to be a ‘well kept secret’ and is not doing all it could to promote it.

Council chiefs hit back and said that extensive advertising in national magazines was proof that his comments were wide of the mark.

Mr Entwistle, of Clitheroe, said: “The Ribble Valley could knock spots off the Cotswolds when it comes to the beauty of its countryside but, after chats with Ribble Valley Council tourism officers and councillors, I am convinced they want to keep the area as a well kept secret.

“They have no interest in promoting it on a national level and I am always shocked when I take coach tours around the area that they have never heard of the Ribble Valley before.

“If they did more to promote tourism in the area there could be real opportunities to create jobs linked to it.”

Mr Entwistle has been asked by Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board to promote the area at The Britain and Ireland travel, London Docklands, this weekend.

But John Heap, director of community services, said: “In 2007 we helped to increase tourism expenditure in Ribble Valley by 4 per cent to over £102m and we welcome over 2m visitors a year.

“Furthermore, we advertise within a number of publications, including the national publications Walk Britain, Holiday and Leisure Magazine and Country Walking Magazine.

“The use of continuous online marketing campaigns has also proved very successful and our Tourist Information Centre (TIC) dealt with over 93,000 visitors and inquiries last year alone.

“In addition, we ensure that the Ribble Valley Tourist Guide is promoted in every TIC across the UK.”