BOSSES at Hedingham Castle have welcomed a new recovery plan to revive the county's tourism and hospitality industry.

Visit Essex has revealed a six-point plan to support businesses in the industry - which was worth £3.5billion to the Essex economy prior to the pandemic.

The expected rise in domestic holidays will see Visit Essex market the county as tourist destination due to its leisure and retail facilities, family attractions, county-wide ancient history and heritage sites, and its countryside, beaches and 350 miles of coastline.

Hedingham Castle owner Demetra Lindsay said: “It is inspiring to see that Visit Essex has created an intelligent and understandable response to the last year, enabling tourism businesses and residents who work in Essex to share in this expertise.

“The Visit Essex recovery plan emphasises the positive changes to the relationship Essex has with the rest of the country and world, building on the strengths of the county and highlighting its unique aspects, as well as creating a step by step marketing method to ensuring an economic recovery that will have a sustainable legacy.”

Visit Essex tourism manager Lisa Bone said: “The plan is just the beginning of a fresh approach as the year ahead will be without doubt a challenging one.

"We aim to equip the county’s tourism and hospitality businesses with the tools they need to enable their successful reopening and ensure their longevity and growth.

“Over the past year Covid-19 has had a detrimental effect on the economy and tourism and hospitality having been amongst those hardest hit, which is why we want to help the industry and the county’s businesses recoup their losses by encouraging people to explore, experience and enjoy everything that our wonderful county has to offer.

“While we are encouraging people to explore Essex, we are urging all visitors to protect and respect the environment as well as the county’s green spaces and hidden gems so that everyone can enjoy them.”