Kirklees Council has hired a brand marketing agency to help sell the district to tourists.

The council has employed Skipton-based fabl to draw up a tourism strategy to promote the district’s towns and villages as great places to visit.

Part of the work will be a review of what Kirklees currently offers tourists and how that can best be maximised.

The strategy will also support businesses in Kirklees to move forward in the post-pandemic era.

The work will provide insight that retail, tourism and hospitality companies can use to assess their financial protection, market share and positioning in light of the challenges posed over the past two years by the pandemic crisis.

Clr Will Simpson, Cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, said: “The last two years have shown us not only the importance of socialising and tourism for our local economy but also the impact that good quality leisure and cultural activities can have on the wellbeing of us all.

Kirklees has some breath-taking vistas. Pic by: SEAN DOYLE

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we want to do everything that we can to support our communities and local businesses, promote our places and maximise the potential and opportunities for our borough.

“This strategy is about the unique contribution all of our places make to building a truly unique borough and exploiting the opportunities this creates for us all to bring business, growth and opportunities to our towns and villages.”

Brand marketing agency fabl has experience and expertise in tourism and hospitality insight combined with strategic consumer experience.

Liz Smailes, head of business development at fabl, said: “We are excited about this opportunity of working with Kirklees Council to create a localised tourism strategy because we know the sector benefits such a wide-ranging scope of businesses, presents opportunities for employment drawing on a multitude of skills and, when done well, enriches the lives of a wider community.”

The tourism strategy for Kirklees is due to be delivered in May 2022 followed by a roll-out later in the year.