Member Article

EuroGites appoints Warwickshire-based tourism figure as president

A leading Warwickshire-based tourism figure has been appointed the president of EuroGites, an organisation which represents country and farm tourism in 28 European countries.

Andy Woodward, the chief executive of award-winning farm accommodation group Farm Stay UK – based at Stoneleigh Park – was elected at a meeting of the General Assembly of EuroGites in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, north Germany.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be nominated as President – this is a fantastic opportunity to position Farm Stay UK at the forefront of European rural tourism and enables us to help influence upcoming EU commission policy. All our members will benefit from this with stronger consumer awareness throughout Europe.

“The next round of funding for 2014 to 2020 is currently being planned. Tourism will receive part of this funding for the first time, so it is critical that farm and rural tourism is recognised within the EU plans.

“The popularity of the countryside has never been greater and it is vital that all tourism organisations working in the countryside continue to develop their quality and offer while this trend continues.”

Farm Stay UK, has over the past 30 years, helped add £3.5 billion to the rural economy as a result of guests staying on farm locations.

It now has over 1,000 members who between them offer more than 1,200 different types of bed & breakfast, self-catering or ‘green’ accommodation.

Members stretch from the Highlands of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall. Farm Stay UK’s website allows people to search hundreds of properties in superb rural settings so couples and families can enjoy country breaks, short trips, rural retreats, business trips or longer stays on a farm in the UK.

Colin Hooper, Stoneleigh Park Estates Director, said: “We have a great variety of companies and organisations at Stoneleigh involved in rural industries and technology, but Farm Stay UK has not only allowed farmers to diversify, but also opened up the world of farming to people who otherwise would not experience it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Pete Squires .