Eden Tourism Summit 2020: ‘Rethinking Tourism in a Changing Environment’

Eden’s tourism businesses will gather for an online summit next week to hear from local and national experts about how the sector can face up to its challenges.

The ninth annual Eden Tourism Summit will take place virtually on Wednesday 14th October.  The theme is ‘Rethinking tourism in a changing environment’. 

It will feature high profile tourism experts including Kurt Janson, director of The Tourism Alliance.  Kurt will address the current challenges and opportunities faced by the visitor economy.

Attendees will be offered practical and positive approaches to recovery from the shockwaves created by the Covid pandemic.

The summit will be hosted by Jim Walker, chair of the Eden Tourism Network.  He is delighted that Eden businesses will be able to tap into national and local expertise.

“Having a virtual tourism summit will certainly be different.  It will continue our tradition of bringing the best speakers to present the latest research and consider the challenges faced by Eden’s tourism industry. 

“Covid-19 has created one of the most testing times the sector has ever known, thereby making the event even more vital and relevant to those who attend.  The speaker line up is strong.  As a result I’m very much looking forward to the event helping to support Eden’s visitor economy as we head into the Autumn and 2021.”

Speakers at the event include:

• Kurt Janson - Director, The Tourism Alliance
• Helen Tate - Research Manager, Cumbria Tourism
• Jane Hasell-McCosh - Dalemain Mansion and Historic Gardens
• Judi Blakeburn - Brand Director, Another Place - The Lake

Participating tourism businesses will be given plenty of opportunities to ask questions following each presentation.  A panel session at the end will encourage lively debate and discussion.

Jessica Goodfellow, joint Eden tourism manager at Eden District Council, said: “We are very much looking forward to the event on Wednesday.  We are so pleased that it is going ahead in its changed format.

“Our speaker line up will provide a unique forum for our businesses to draw upon a wealth of national and local tourism expertise all on one screen.”

There is still time for Eden tourism businesses to register for the event.  The closing date is 12 noon on Tuesday October 13th. The Summit will take place from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday October 14th.

For more information contact the Eden Tourism Team:

•   Email: tourism@eden.gov.uk