Rory Stewart MP could push to create a 'Cumbria Day' in Westminister (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rory Stewart MP could push to create a 'Cumbria Day' in Westminister

9:56am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Mike Addison, Assistant editor

PENRITH and the Border MP Rory Stewart has pledged to create a platform from which Cumbrian tourism can be discussed in Parliament and promoted outside of the county.

He has proposed setting up an associate parliamentary group which would involve all the county’s MPs and Lords as well as any individuals or bodies outside of Parliament who have a strong interest in the promotion of tourism affairs. It follows a meeting he had with Cumbria Tourism chairman Eric Robson and Managing Director Ian Stephens.

“Much more needs to be done promoting to the wider world what Cumbria has to offer,” said Mr Stewart. “I want to end up in a situation where foreign tourists see getting a photo on top of Blencathra as being as important as a photo in front of Big Ben.”

He is also looking into the idea of establishing a “Cumbria Day” at Westminster, where local businesses would have the chance to market and promote themselves within the capital.