A tourism summit is being held in Newquay to help revitalise the town.

Newquay MP Noah is staging the event at a location to be announced on Friday, June 6 and is inviting local independent businesses, as well as relevant organisations, to have their say to help the town fulfil its potential.

He wants to ensure that Newquay is on the front foot to secure funding for what improvements are needed in the town following the government preparing a national tourism strategy.

Mr Law also wants to make sure that any money invested is spent wisely so that it benefits the community and promotes all year round, higher-value tourism that “puts pounds in the pockets of local people.”

The summit will include updates on how Government is looking to support tourism businesses; as well as an open discussion around key topics affecting the sector.

Attendees will shape the agenda, but topics are likely to include managing changes within food and drink; supporting and leveraging heritage and coastal assets; recognising potential impacts of climate change; and exploring opportunities within film and television.

Mr Law said: “It’s time to make tourism power the revitalisation of our town and put more pounds in the pockets of local people.

“After a tough few years for tourism, it’s a personal priority for me to champion ‘Brand Newquay,’ not only locally but also nationally and internationally, recognising that success for the town can also deliver widely shared growth benefits for Cornwall and the UK.

“The Government aims to increase visitor numbers in the UK to 50 million by 2030 via a new national tourism strategy, which is under development.

“I am absolutely committed to putting Newquay forward as part of that plan. But, as we know all too well in Cornwall, it can’t just be a numbers game.

“Small and medium sized businesses make up the backbone of the tourism industry in Newquay – which is why, this week, I am meeting independent firms operating within the sector to get the very latest picture on the challenges they are facing, how they can help to drive growth in Cornwall and the UK, and importantly, how government can help.

“I will be sharing all the feedback with those preparing the national tourism strategy.

“The halcyon days of tourism being solely about ice cream, buckets and spade holidays alone are largely gone, in favour of a much more sophisticated set of expectations, even for budget travellers. I am focused on driving higher-value tourism which optimises spend per visitor so we’re less dependent on pure numbers, providing careers not just jobs and putting more pounds in the pockets of local people, identifying the infrastructure so locals and holidaymakers alike feel less of a strain, and tackling some of the wider structural challenges around the cost of holidaying in Cornwall whilst maintaining a quality, motivated workforce.

“In parallel, I am hearing loud and clear that the sector is grappling with a series of challenges, with 2024 the "flattest year" in my experience, due to factors including poor weather, the general election, and cost-of-living pressures.

“For me, the mission to optimise tourism is a personal one. During my election campaign I made three pledges to constituents in St Austell and Newquay – one of which was to revitalise our towns – and that has to include a strategy to support tourism.

“First, I plan to help rework the tourism model so that national and local governments better support tourism businesses with the ultimate goal of revitalising our towns and putting more pounds in the pockets of local people.

“Next, I want to focus on delivering more formal holiday accommodation which, to breathe life back into the town and gets cash circulating in the local economy.

“Finally, the tourism sector makes up a vital piece of the business and social ecosystem in St Austell and Newquay and to make it truly sustainable I support the delivery of appropriate infrastructure.

“Following meetings with the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, I am thrilled to see already that money will be channelled into refurbishing Newquay Health Centre – freeing up capacity for critically needed-appointments. I support government in funding thousands of extra nursery places - like at Pondhu School in St Austell, while ensuring the delivery of rail upgrades. I am also working to ensure we get the right kind of homes, in the right place, at the right price, for local people with the appropriate infrastructure in place.

“These have been tough times for tourism, but we must never forget that Newquay is a jewel in the crown of Cornwall – voted as one of the nation’s favourite seaside towns, and with its very own airport and direct rail links – let’s keep the momentum.

“Get this right, and we have a win:win – not just for Newquay, but the whole of Cornwall.”

Any business affected by tourism can register to attend the tourism summit by visiting tourisminnewquay2025.eventbrite.co.uk