SOMERSET'S tourism sector is being encouraged to take advantage of new development grants just announced.

Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says they represent an opportunity to enhance the county’s tourism offering after a punishing two years’ trading during the pandemic.

Grants of between £25,000 and £40,000 are now available to underwrite projects that deliver genuinely new provision for visitors to Somerset.

They are being offered to small and medium size businesses (up to 250 employees), business partnerships, and community organisations under the local authority-funded Visitor Economy Support Programme.

Projects selected for grant aid will need to be implemented this year but have a long-term life.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said the grants offer a fantastic opportunity to enhance the county’s attractions as a tourist destination.

He said: “Most tourism businesses are always keen to innovate and extend their sphere of activities but unfortunately having had the stuffing knocked out of their finances over the last couple of years most are not currently in a position to do so.

“We saw from the influx of visitors once the restrictions were lifted last summer that Somerset is now tapping into new markets and that its attractions as a destination are being far more widely appreciated, which is very good news indeed.

“But this sort of financial support is going to be invaluable in underwriting what I can see being a very exciting new phase in the development of the Somerset tourism sector.”

Among the scheme’s aims are supporting genuinely new service provision, extending the tourism season into the spring and autumn, targeting higher-spend customer markets, and developing visitor-friendly packages.

The deadline for applications to the Visitor Economy Innovation Grant is Monday, March14. Visit Somerset Visitor Economy Innovation Grant Scheme for more information.