Important new English Tourism role for Windermere Lake Cruises’ leader

The Managing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises is to take up a key new role in helping to develop the growth and excellence of English Tourism.

Nigel Wilkinson MBE has been appointed a VisitEngland Advisory Board Member by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The VisitEngland Advisory Board is responsible for advising the executive and board of the British Tourist Authority, which trades as VisitBritain and VisitEngland, on matters relating to tourism in England, and thereby helping to drive economic growth and excellence in English tourism.

Nigel said “I am delighted to have been appointed to the VisitEngland Advisory Board. I hope that the experience I have gained as a commercial operator in a rural destination such as the Lake District will enable me to make a significant contribution to the work of the Board and the implementation of the Tourism Recovery Plan.

“There is no doubt that the visitor economy in England faces challenges, but there are also many opportunities. I look forward to working with the Board and Executive of the British Tourism Authority to derive maximum benefit from these opportunities.”

The term of appointment will be for five years, commencing on 11 August 2022 until 10 August 2027.

A graduate Engineer and Chartered Accountant, Nigel has been Managing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises Limited, Cumbria’s largest visitor attraction, since 2004. He is also Managing Director of Winander Leisure Limited. In the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List Nigel was recognised with the honour of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to tourism and the economy in Cumbria. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria in July 2022.

Nick de Bois CBE, chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board commented “Nigel’s record of experience and advocacy for the English visitor economy is a welcome addition to the board. I am delighted that he is joining a team that is committed to supporting English tourism and meeting the recovery and growth objectives set out in the Tourism Recovery Plan. I am very much looking forward to working with him.”

Nigel has championed the sustainable development of the visitor economy across the Lake District and Cumbria for many years.

Under his leadership, Windermere Lake Cruises has become one of the top paid for visitor attractions in the country with over 1.6 million passenger journeys annually and forms an integral part of the public transport network in the central Lake District.

Nigel joined the Board of Cumbria Local Enterprise partnership (CLEP) in 2017 and chairs both CLEP’s Visitor Economy Sector Panel and its Finance, Audit and Resources Committee. He also represents CLEP on the Lake District national Park Partnership. In 2021 he was appointed as a Trustee/Director of South Cumbria Rivers Trust which monitors, conserves, protects and improves the biodiversity of lakes, rivers and streams in South Cumbria