SEVENTY thousand pounds of public cash is being invested in Oxford’s tourism sector to secure its future post-pandemic.

The cash is being used to fund Oxfordshire’s official tourism promotion organisation, as well as sorting long-term logistical problems with coaches unloading in the city centre, in an effort to give the tourist economy a boost once the pandemic ends.

A £50,000 fund is being provided to Experience Oxfordshire from a Government grant, which will be used to help tourism businesses access grants and wider support.

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And a further £20,000 comes from Oxford City Council’s budget this year, and will be used to create a coach drop-off and layover strategy for the city, setting out more stops where coaches can pick-up and drop-off passengers.

Oxford City Council is also involved in plans to transform Boswells Department Store into a hotel, which it hopes will attract more people to stay overnight in the city, and thereby spend more money as visitors.

Mary Clarkson, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Covered Market and Culture, said the council had ‘spent years’ trying to attract more people to stay overnight, and hoped to see tourism grow after the pandemic ends.