The Lake District’s successful bid for World Heritage status, put together by the Lake District National Park Partnership, is a huge opportunity for businesses to benefit from new customers and markets by developing innovative products and services.

Put simply, if the county can collectively increase cultural visitor spending more on accommodation, leisure activities, and food and drink by 1 per cent we could grow our local economy by about £20m. Many other businesses, sectors and industries are in a strong position to benefit.

The Lake District already attracts millions of visitors per year and has a strong reputation as a world-class destination. Its attainment of World Heritage status, coupled with that brand, will reinforce our international profile and attract visitors to Cumbria as a whole. It will help maintain domestic and international visitor numbers, as well as encouraging more ‘cultural visitors’ who stay longer and spend more here.

And yet this momentous decision goes way beyond tourism and Cumbria’s visitor economy. It benefits the whole county and we want to see a broader range of businesses using it as a platform for growth. For example, we have already seen the University of Cumbria using it to attract students, and Britain’s Energy Coast is now making reference to it in their recruitment activity.

It is also a welcome boost for the food and farming sectors and other rural businesses across the county who can use World Heritage Site status to support their marketing efforts. Industry, farming and businesses are entwined with this spectacular cultural landscape, but they need continued investment and business support to maximise future opportunities.

World Heritage Site status will create global recognition and put the competitiveness of Lake District businesses under the spotlight. That in turn will help attract and retain talent and draw potential investment into the region.

The Lake District is now the UK’s largest World Heritage Site, and, alongside Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria’s second. Our aim is for visitors to enjoy a higher quality, broader offer from leisure and hospitality providers who are using the World Heritage status in their marketing. This includes more accessible information when planning trips here, especially from overseas.

Businesses across Cumbria are being encouraged to take part in We Are The Lakes: a new marketing campaign to maximise our new status. Free online toolkit resources are available at lakesworldheritage.co.uk/toolkit

The LEP and partners such as Cumbria Tourism will be using World Heritage status to help maintain and grow interest from VisitEngland and VisitBritain, with whom we will be able to work more closely to market the region both within the UK and internationally.

Cumbria has a very high proportion of its population living in rural areas or working in the tourism sector. World Heritage status is a real boost for the rural and visitor economy, both within and outside the national park area. It will raise the profile of Cumbria as a place to invest, attract new businesses, live and work.

It is a fantastic platform from which to ensure economic growth for rural communities, and especially for key sectors such as food and drink, hospitality, outdoor activities, attractions and events.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership will be publishing a Rural and Visitor Economy Growth Plan later this summer, developed in consultation with our partners, representative organisations and rural businesses.