I am absolutely thrilled that the place we call home has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Joining the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon this magnificent achievement was only made possible due to hard work of 25 organisations in the Lake District National Park Partnership who fought to put our area in the spotlight and I commend their dedication.
Around ¾ of the Copeland constituency lies within the National Park boundary and yesterday’s brilliant announcement will unquestionably raise the profile of what the Lake District has to offer for both tourists and locals alike.
We live in one of the most stunning and unique locations in the world which each year attracts more than 18 million visitors from countries as far as the US and Japan. To be presented with this opportunity to boost tourism even further from emerging markets including Brazil, India and China is an immense achievement and will benefit the whole community for years and years to come.
I look forward to what the future holds for the Lake District and in particular my constituency of Copeland and will be talking to and working with local businesses to honour this wonderful accolade.