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Written question asked by Lord Redesdale (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 May 2024. It was answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.


Tourism: Religious Buildings

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned any research into the tourism potential of local parish churches, chapels and meeting houses.

Answer

His Majesty’s Government has not commissioned any specific such research, but the International Passenger Survey (2019) found that 21% of inbound visits to the UK included visiting religious buildings, which are an important part of our national heritage.

Additionally, as part of the Discover England Fund, VisitEngland supported the National Churches Trust to create a number of new visitor experiences and to help them work more closely with destination management organisations to improve their visibility in the visitor economy. A number of these experiences and things to do, in and around the Trust’s churches, were held on the Explore Churches website (www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore). Visit England continues to support and work closely with the National Churches Trust.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4044
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Research Tourism Religious buildings
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk