Champions of Morecambe Bay tourism have spoken of their excitement over work due to start on the Eden Project and the Tour de France visiting the area.
Bay Tourism Association held its annual meeting at the Midland on Tuesday, to launch the Morecambe Bay Visitor Guide and to celebrate its own 25th anniversary this year.
Representatives from local tourism businesses, councils, education and other organisations attended on a glorious sunny spring day.
Speeches came from John Pye, project director of Eden Project Morecambe, David Waddington, chair of Morecambe BID and Vikki Harris from Marketing Lancashire.
Guests also heard from people putting on events across the area, including Stuart Michaels from Morecambe Music Festival which returns in July, John Davis from Lancaster & Morecambe Armed Forces Day which returns in June, and Terry Allum from the Winter Gardens theatre who spoke about plans to celebrate Eric Morecambe's centenary this May, as well as Councillor Martin Bottoms, cabinet member for Morecambe regeneration and the local economy.
Mark Prada, chair of Bay Tourism Association, a group of volunteers who champion the local area, hosted the event.
Mr Prada said developments at the Eden Project Morecambe, which is expected to bring an estimated 580,000 visitors a year when it opens - scheduled for 2028 - and the Tour de France coming to Lancaster and Morecambe District in 2027 were "enormous" for the area.
LISTEN to Mark Prada from Bay Tourism Association, pictured with John Pye from Eden Project Morecambe at Tuesday's event
"We had a great turnout," said Mark.
"People are interested in what's going on in Morecambe.
"Very exciting news about the Eden Project Morecambe 'Bring Me Sunshine' garden being built this summer, and then the Tour de France in 2027.
"The build-up can happen this year and the benefits for tourism in 2026 are enormous.
"You get a real feelgood factor in the room. People are proud of what's going on in Morecambe and the whole of the Bay area."
Vikki Harris from Marketing Lancashire also said the Bring Me Sunshine Garden being showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show this May, and the Tour de France coming to the area in 2027, were huge opportunities for tourism.
LISTEN to Vikki Harris from Marketing Lancashire
"All the build up on the TV (to the Chelsea Flower Show) will really start to cement in people's minds the exciting stuff that's happening here and we will see a big uplift in visitor numbers this summer as people are reminded that Morecambe exists and how fantastic it is," she said.
"The Tour de France is the biggest free sporting event in the world. It is watched by 5bn people around the globe.
"This is not just a blink and you'll miss it, load of people going through in lycra, it's the biggest opportunity we'll ever have in Lancaster and Morecambe to have a global TV campaign.
"The whole world is going to see just how incredible our little corner of the world is."
We also spoke to some of the other guests at Tuesday's event.
LISTEN to Emma Dennison from The Bay School of Hospitality, Lancaster & Morecambe College
LISTEN to Bill Howard from Sunnyside Camping and Caravan Park, pictured with his wife Michelle
LISTEN to Professor Radka Newton from Lancaster University Management School, pictured with student Hugo Zhang
More photos from the Bay Tourism Association event.
John Davis
David Waddington
Stuart Michaels with Mark Prada
Councillor Martin Bottoms
Read more: LISTEN: Main contractor to build Eden Project Morecambe to be announced this month - Beyond Radio
Lancaster and Morecambe Armed Forces celebration to expand to three days - Beyond Radio
LISTEN: Eric Morecambe centenary celebrations announced for Winter Gardens - Beyond Radio
INTERVIEWS: Morecambe Bay visitor guide launched with high hopes for tourist season - Beyond Radio
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