Hundreds of small businesses are set to benefit from new plans to transform East London into one of the UK’s major tourist destinations.
A joint venture between the London Development Agency, TourEast London and local London Boroughs and stakeholders, the plans seek to put East London firmly on the visitor map.
Research is already being carried out into the benefits of tourism within individual boroughs as well as ways to make the most of the 2012 Olympic games if the capital were to win its bid to host the sporting event.
Tourism in the UK is worth £15 billion a year to the economy and accounts for around 10 per cent of the capitals gross domestic product.
This project will also attempt to pursuade visitors that there is much more to London than its centre, in-turn spreading the economic benefits of tourism to small businesses across the city.
Anita Thornberry, Head of Tourism at the LDA, said: “East London is a ‘hidden gem’ that is fast becoming a dynamic business location and is poised to become a major tourist destination. Our plan is to capitalise on the wide diversity of attractions and cultures in the area.”
However, much of the planning could rely heavily on the likelihood Of London hosting the games come 2012.
The potential for UK tourism is massive if London host the Olympics, with an estimated 11,000 new jobs within the Olympic Park alone as well as benefits for many neighbouring businesses.
Thorberry said, “With the Olympics, the LDA is committed to working with a wide range of public and private sector partners so that the tourism industry in East London can play a bigger role in generating prosperity in the area.”