Travel and Tourism Students at Peterborough College Celebrate English Tourism Week

Travel and Tourism students at Peterborough College got a real-world look into the local visitor economy this week as they hosted guest speakers from Discover Peterborough.

The visit kick-started English Tourism Week, a national campaign by VisitBritain that highlights how local landmarks and businesses drive the country’s economy. This year’s theme, ‘Local Stories, National Growth,’ was the focus of the day as students explored how their own city fits into the UK’s wider tourism map. 

Discover Peterborough delivered two sessions throughout the day. In the morning, Level 2 students discussed the basics of what makes a destination work, while the afternoon session saw Level 3 students diving into the more strategic side of marketing the city to a national audience. 

Travel and Tourism lecturer, Melissa Gray, said: “Tourism starts at home and having Discover Peterborough join us allowed our students to see their city through a professional, strategic lens. In the spirit of English Tourism Week, we explored how Peterborough’s ‘Local Stories’ act as a catalyst for ‘National Growth,’ giving our Level 2 students the industry insights they need to turn their passion for their hometown into a thriving career.”

She continued, “By engaging directly with our local Destination Management Organisation (DMO), our students moved beyond the textbook to understand the real-world mechanics of tourism. It was inspiring to see them move from being residents to becoming future ambassadors, discussing how they can help shape the identity and growth of Peterborough’s visitor economy.“

By connecting with experts who promote the city every day, the students gained a better understanding of the career paths available to them and the importance of ‘staycation’ and local heritage to the UK’s growth.