Westminster Diary (Rugby) - 18th September 2005

Sunday, 18th September 2005

As summer draws to a close, it is worth asking whether we have seen enough tourists in Rugby.

It has always seemed to me that Rugby, the birthplace of the game, can attract many more visitors if attractively marketed, both from this country and from abroad. There are millions of Australians, New Zealanders and even Americans, for example, who are huge fans of the game and who visit Britain, but who do not come to our town.

We should want them to come here not just because we are proud of our community, but also because they will spend their money in our shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. To bring them here we need good ideas and plenty of backing. We need no Rugby fan to be in any doubt that this is a place  he or she must visit.

We need first-class attractions. The Olympic Games come to Britain in 2012 and training facilities will be needed all around the country for athletes of all nations and in all sports. Could Rugby be the site of one of these facilities, which could then be converted into a rugby training facility of world-class quality? If so, we could see the England rugby team training here and Rugby’s economy could benefit from those who come to watch.

There are plenty more good ideas to be had to improve Rugby’s tourism profile – why not let me know if you have one?

Then we need the backing. I know that Rugby Borough Council and others in the town are already working to highlight Rugby as a tourist destination and to provide something special for tourists to see and do here. I support what they are doing and I know they will do more.

We also need Warwickshire to work together on this. Visitors already flock to Stratford and to Warwick Castle, but how many of them include Rugby in their trip? Those who go to the better-known attractions in our county need to be persuaded to see the rest of it. We have a lot to offer. Given the recent expansion of the tourist economy, we also have a lot to gain.

---

Updated on Sunday, 18th September 2005