TOURISM spending could be boosted to almost £16million a year and an extra 100 full time jobs created if a blueprint aimed at making Pendle more attractive to visitors is a success.

Visitors already spend £12.6million a year in the area and help keep around 575 people in work, according to a consultants' report commissioned by Pendle Council.

The countryside and heritage is highlighted as the area's most important strength and success will depend on making the most of the borough's natural beauty without spoiling it.

The report by Liverpool-based L&R Consulting says a specialist tourism development officer should be

appointed.

It recommends an improved tourist information service centred on one central site rather than the current two offices and says Lake Burwain, Foulridge, should be developed as a country park.

Themed events would draw in extra visitors and trade.

If the strategy is successful, it could increase tourism spending by a quarter to £15.7million a year in five years and create an extra 100 full time jobs, the council's policy committee will be told on Thursday.

Around 633,000 day visitors come to Pendle, with the major magnet being Boundary Mill Stores, Colne, which attracts more than a million customers annually.

A further 166,500 visitors stay at least one night in the area. The report admits Pendle has few special attractions to draw in visitors and the prospect of any new major attractions in the next few years is unlikely.

The best hope is to concentrate on gradual growth of niche, special interest markets such as walking and mill shopping and the countryside should be at the heart of any future tourism programme.

Among recommendations are the creation of more short, circular walks and cycle routes, the development of a countryside centre and a Festival of the Countryside event.

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