Mel Stride MP supported English Tourism Week this week by visiting the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh today (05/05/14) to support the beginning of its main daily-running season. The visit comes a day after the re-opening of the main railway line at Dawlish on Friday and saw the scenic, steam-operated railway offering a bargain Spring ‘half fare’ weekend to show that it’s truly ‘Open for Business’ again.
Passengers casted off the recent cold and wet Winter blues and stepped out to bask in a cut-price steam feast redolent of the ‘Golden Age’ of steam. No fewer than nine trains ran on both Saturday and Sunday over the pretty seven-mile line from Buckfastleigh to Totnes, which has a mainline train connection and appeals to families and enthusiasts alike.
Mel (pictured on a previous visit to the railway) said:
“This is the third time I have visited the South Devon railway as an MP – it is one of the area’s most important tourist attractions and has taken a real hit in recent months due to disruptions to the line. It was great to see the superb railway back in full operation and families really enjoying themselves.”
During Mel’s visit the railway’s Business Development and PR Manager Dick Wood took the opportunity to lobby him on reducing the issue of VAT in the tourism sector, explaining:
“24 out of 28 EU countries such as France and Spain enjoy vastly reduced VAT in their tourism sectors unlike the UK where we still pay 20%. If the UK followed suit, it would give counties like Devon a real boost and since the tourism sector employs more young people than most other industries, the move would also help reduce youth unemployment.”
