ALL ABOARD Get out of town

Posted on 03/10/2016 | About London, United Kingdom

The UK government has a five point plan to boost tourism; one of the points being to encourage tourists to discover “hidden gems” outside of London. The Department of Transport has designed a competition aimed at heritage and community railways, offering grants for ideas that improve the tourist experience.

Tourism and Heritage Minister David Evennett said, “We want more tourists to experience the best of Britain beyond the capital and help boost local economies across the country. Heritage railways are a huge draw for tourists and this competition will encourage more visitors to see some of the hidden gems the country has to offer.”Heritage railways receive around 10 million visitors a year, contributing an estimated £250 ($472) million to the UK economy.Community rail lines are often rural based and account for around 40 million journeys per year providing transport to tourists going to and from London.The UK government website states that the competition is expected to generate around 20 winners, who will receive grants ranging from £25,000 ($47,190) to £75,000 ($141,571) to develop their ideas.There is £1 ($1.88) million earmarked for this competition for projects that include:•    improving the connectivity of heritage and community rail•    improved disability access•    special ticketing offers •    better cycle facilities at stations