Lake District tourism experts have met in Kendal to discuss how to make 2010 a successful year.

Representatives from some of Cumbria’s leading hotel firms and tourism organisations attended an event at business advisors Moore and Smalley’s Murley Moss headquarters.

Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, said the sector had reason to be optimistic.

“Despite recent events there are many favorable factors for making the Lake District and Cumbria a very desirable destination for the UK holiday market, and all the indicators we use in terms of web bookings and other forecasts are showing that 2010 can be just as good as the first three quarters of 2009.”

Colin Johnson, head of Moore and Smalley’s leisure and tourism team, said: “It’s clear that most tourism businesses are optimistic and are prepared to fight tooth and nail to make 2010 a success by being innovative with their product and pricing.”

More than 200 rooms across a number of Lake District hotels and guesthouses are up for grabs over the next three weeks following an appeal to boost tourist numbers in the area after last November’s flooding.

Up to 40 accommodation providers have donated an allocation of ‘free’ rooms with breakfast for the remaining two Sunday evening’s in January and on the first Sunday in February.

Visitors will pay the bargain price of just £9.99 per person for a Sunday night stay at many of the county’s leading establishments including the four-star lake-fronted Low Wood Hotel in Windermere, and the five star boutique guesthouse, Number 43 in Arnside.

The Lakes Hospitality Association and Cumbria Tourism are working together on this national initiative to encourage visitors back to the Lake District.

Last November’s unprecedented flooding is estimated to have cost Cumbria’s tourism industry over £2.6 million in lost and cancelled bookings.

Ian Stephens, Chief Executive at Cumbria Tourism, said: “Although much of the flooding was isolated to specific parts of Cumbria, tourism businesses countywide still experienced a significant downturn in business due to widespread media reporting at the time.

“We want to encourage people to come and see for themselves that we are open for business at what is typically a quieter time in the tourism calendar, and if we can attract new visitors to the area with this offer, we are confident that they will continue to return again year after year.”

Jonathan Denby, chairman of Lakes Hospitality Association, recently called on accommodation providers to get on board with the plan to boost visitor numbers and has donated free accommodation at his three South Lakes hotels for the campaign.

He said: “This ‘Open for Business’ campaign is a gesture of goodwill from the Lake District to welcome customers’ back and to show that the roads are clear, the shops are open and the hotels and attractions are ready and waiting to welcome visitors.”

A countrywide scheme to open up England’s national parks to ethnic minorities took a stride forward when 10 potential ‘champions’ gathered in the Lake District.

Launched by TV adventurer Ben Fogle in July, the Government-backed Mosaic campaign targets 20 cities, linking them to the country’s nine national parks, to encourage wider access to the land’s best countryside.

Although around nine per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority, they make up only one per cent of national park visitors.

The aim is to find and train champions, who will then urge their communities to share these iconic areas.

The Lake District National Park is developing contacts with Lancaster, Blackburn, Preston and Manchester.

Over the weekend, interested individuals gathered in Ambleside.

Steering the project for the Lake District National Park Authority, Lucy McQuillan said: “We are delighted to welcome such enthusiastic and willing people who will make convincing role models in their communities.”

Once appointed, 200 champions will work with their national parks, encouraging an extra 4,000 ethnic visitors and ultimately reaching around 40,000 people.

What’s on

The heat is on at the Lakes Chilli Fest (chillifest.co.uk) at Levens Hall near Kendal on 15 and 16 August. Fiery food from Cumbria and further afield will be served up at a variety of food stalls, with live music, fire-eaters and the like.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, hounds trails and fell races are just some of the sports to watch at the Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show (grasmeresportsandshow.co.uk) on 30 August.

The Streets and Ash are among the groups at Kendal Calling (kendal calling.com) from 31 July to 2 August. Pitch your tent in Lowther Deer Park, the festival’s new venue. Meanwhile, classical works headline Lake District Summer Music (ldsm.org.uk) at venues across the county from 31 July to 15 August, with a programme that includes Indian compositions as well as traditional favourites.

Solfest (solwayfestival.co.uk), at Silloth, will mix live music with artistic workshops and a market from 28 to 30 August. And Mintfest (lakesalive.org) champions the best contemporary international street arts in Kendal, from 28 to 30 August.

See the sights

High-wire, pyrotechnics and more high-energy arts events will bring the streets and shorelines around the county to life throughout August with Lakes Alive (lakesalive.org). Catch Dance Daze today in Penrith, when dancers will take to the market town’s streets, or see Workington turn into a giant pantomime set, on 15 and 16 August, for Once Upon a Summer’s Day.

Get active, if only for an hour or so, with kayaking, ghyll-scrambling or a bit of plain old horse riding. Destination Cumbria (destinationcumbria .co.uk) is offering cut-price deals on a huge variety of challenges.

Just open, The Bond Museum (thebondmuseum.com) in Keswick showcases 007′s favoured modes of transport, from Aston Martins to a Russian T55 tank. Open daily.

See the new bronze sculpture of Ulverston’s famous son, Stan Laurel, and his comedy partner, Oliver Hardy. And call in at the museum dedicated to the comedy duo at its new home at the Roxy Cinema. (laurel-and-hardy.co.uk).

Gordon Brown is swapping the Suffolk seaside for a holiday in the Lake District this summer.

Along with Sarah, his wife, and two young sons he will again seek to relax at a British destination rather than going abroad. The Prime Minister will hope that he has better luck than his previous two attempts to enjoy a holiday in Britain.

Two years ago he travelled to Dorset after only a few weeks in Number 10 as Prime Minister. But he was called back to London for foot-and-mouth crisis meetings after just four hours on the south coast and did not return.

Last year Mr Brown was dogged by political problems during the summer holiday. On the first day of his break in Southwold, Suffolk, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, wrote a stinging article criticising the Prime Minister’s leadership, sparking another crisis.

That came just after Labour had been humiliated in the Glasgow East by-election, losing a seat in its heartlands to the SNP. Mr Brown’s holiday departure this year is also likely to coincide with another by-election loss in Norwich North next Thursday.

Mr Brown’s closest colleagues and advisers have been stressing to him that he needs a proper holiday before the long run into next year’s election. He has been accused of being “weary” after months of bitter political battles including the expenses scandal and attempts by Labour MPs to force him from office.

As well as the region’s most popular lakes, such as Windermere and Coniston, there are a number of other attractions the Browns could enjoy including the Pencil Museum in Keswick and Ostrich World in Penrith.

Mr Brown has always been a reluctant tourist and will again spend some of his anticipated three-week break at his constituency home in Scotland. Downing Street last night refused to comment on Mr Brown’s holiday plans.

The Prime Minister’s absence from Number 10 is likely to trigger a bitter fight among his closest colleagues about who is running the country while he is away. Lord Mandelson will expect to be in control after effectively assuming the position of deputy prime minister with his new title of First Secretary.

But he will face opposition from Harriet Harman, Labour deputy leader, who believes she should be in control. Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, will also expect to be consulted.

The recession has forced politicians of all colours to think about taking their breaks at home rather than in exotic foreign climes.

Telegraph.co.uk

The popular areas are followed by the Yorkshire Dales and the Scottish Highlands for those having breaks close to home.

The number of Britons going abroad has fallen from 33 per cent in 2008 to 27 per cent in 2009 with nearly a third of holidaymakers now planning to stay in their own country.

Of those holidaying at home, 40 per cent will be taking a seaside holiday while 24 per cent will be staying in the countryside and 18 per cent will be taking a theme park inspired break (up 8%);

The amount people expect to spend on their holiday in 2009 is down on last year, dropping from an average of £631 to £567

Holidaymakers expect their biggest expense to be accommodation, with the average spend predicted to be £159;

Other expected outlays are £105 on attractions, £104 on eating out and £94 spent on travel.

Paul Harvey, of Travelodge, who conducted the survey, said: “The summer of 2009 is set to be a big year for the British tourism industry.

“With the Met Office predicting glorious weather and a majority of holidaymakers looking to stay at home, this year the resorts and destinations of the UK will be jam packed with British tourists.

“It is also clear that people are looking to have an affordable break, cutting back on how much they are looking to spend when compared to the summer of 2008.”

The top 10 holiday locations Britons will be visiting this summer:

• 1.  Cornwall
• 2.  Lake District
• 3.  Yorkshire Dales
• 4.  Scottish Highlands & Islands
• 5.  Edinburgh
• 6.  London
• 7.  Isle of Wight
• 8.  Devon
• 9.  Norfolk Broads
• 10.  South Wales