New Visitor Economy Board to Support Sector

A brand new board dedicated to promoting and supporting the visitor economy sector has been assembled by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Twelve leaders from the worlds of tourism, hospitality, leisure, arts and culture, education, skills and heritage came together yesterday (21st September) for the first meeting of the LEP’s new Visitor Economy Board.

In line with the LEP’s own rules the board must be reconstituted with new members every three years.

Before Covid-19 the visitor economy was estimated to be worth over £2.39bn to Greater Lincolnshire, and it supported at least 30,000 full time jobs.

The Visitor Economy Board was created before the pandemic but its top priority now is to support the sector and help it to recover to pre-Covid levels.

The new Chair is Nicky Van Der Drift, Chief Executive Officer of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, while the new Vice Chair is Jo Hardy, Business Operations Manager for Hardy’s Farm Ltd which owns Hardy’s Animal Farm in Skegness.

The Visitor Economy Board. Back row (left to right): Kimberley Vickers, Charlotte Goy, Emma Lowe, Amy O’Sullivan (Greater Lincolnshire LEP), Paul Robinson, Emma Olivier-Townrow, Alex Saul.  Front row (left to right): Jo Hardy, Nicky Van Der Drift, Ruth Carver (LEP Chief Executive).

Photo: Alan Fletcher.