People from all corners of Cumbria are being encouraged to sample the best of the county’s visitor attractions during a special new initiative called Residents’ Week.

The first-ever Cumbria Residents’ Week will take place from Saturday October 2 to October 10, 2021, with more than 75 local businesses signed up to the scheme including Whinlatter Forest, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (known as the La’al Ratty), Tullie House Museum in Carlisle, Ullswater Steamers, and Barrow’s Urban Extreme Indoor Skate Park.

Cumbrian residents who go to visit a participating business and make a qualifying purchase of £10 or more will be given a code to enter themselves into a draw giving them a chance to win a fantastic prize donated by the businesses taking part. Once a resident receives a code to enter the prize draw it should be inputted on the Residents’ Week website at www.cumbriaresidentsweek.co.uk.

Prizes include two-night stays, meal vouchers, gift vouchers, food hampers, bottles of champagne, memberships, free cocktails, film tickets and more.

The initiative has been put together through a partnership of Cumbria’s six district councils with the support of Cumbria Tourism and Keswick Tourism Association.

It is hoped that the scheme will help to support the business community to bounce back from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic by encouraging Cumbria’s residents to sample the great attractions, venues, eateries, hotels, shops and more on their doorstep.

Cllr Tony Markley, Allerdale Borough Council’s Executive member for leisure and tourism, said: “Residents’ Week promises to be a great initiative which I’m sure will give Cumbria’s visitor economy a welcome boost now the traditional tourist season is winding down.

“Everyone who lives in Cumbria will know how amazing our county is so I’d urge everyone to support their local attractions as much as possible and to use this as an opportunity to explore others you may not have already been to.

“Tourism is so important for this part of the world but we, as locals, can also play our part in supporting the visitor economy.”

Mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie said: “Cumbria Residents’ Week is a great chance for people who live here to maybe try something new and explore somewhere different in the county.

“The businesses who have signed up are an integral part of our county’s economy and to help them bounce back after a truly awful year with Covid we all need to do what we can to support them.”

If the week-long event is a success, it is hoped Residents’ Week will become part of the annual calendar in Cumbria.