Good times could be on the horizon for Cumbria’s tourism sector with millions of pounds set to be invested in new measures like a northern version of the ‘Oyster Card’. 

That was just one of several key announcements that could boost tourism businesses, including:

> A new £40 million Discover England Fund  

> The government will invest £60 million a year to deliver the renewed GREAT campaign

in-Cumbria has broken down which areas of the tourism industry stand to benefit from this Spending Review.

Arts & Culture 

> The government will explore with the sector the case for introducing a new tax relief for museums and galleries. 

> The government will fund capital investments in culture across the country through a total of £1.6 million by 2020-21. 

> Free Entry into Museums maintained > Increase in funds by Art Council 

> £20 million investment to expand the Great Exhibition of the North and to create a new Great Exhibition Legacy Fund.

Rural 

> £3 billion investment to safeguard England’s countryside through the Common Agricultural Policy, and protection of over £350 million funding for public forests, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty over the Spending Review period

Transport 

> Transport infrastructure spending to increase 50% to £61bn > £150 million to introduce “Oyster Card” ticketing across the whole of the North.

Devolution 

> £12bn for the Local Growth Fund and announces 26 new or extended Enterprise Zones, including 15 in towns and rural areas across the country, including one for Carlisle 

> From 2020, councils will be able to keep money from business rates collected from shops and businesses, to spend on local services 

> Councils will be able to retain 100% of the assets they sell 

> A £400 million Northern Powerhouse investment fund will be created to help small businesses to grow. 

Ian Stephens, MD of Cumbria Tourism, said: “As the tourism and visitor economy delivers yet another year of solid growth for the Cumbrian economy, we are cautiously optimistic that the Government’s Autumn Statement will deliver numerous benefits for tourism in England.