The transport infrastructure is a fundamental part of the visitor economy in England’s Northwest.  Visitors require conveniently located and accessible airports with excellent services, public rail and coach connections, easily accessible car hire and road networks. Manchester, Liverpool John Lennon and Blackpool Airports are international gateways for visitors to the Northwest. Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has been involved in a number of initiatives to develop this activity further, for example, improvements to the visitor welcome at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the provision of an additional platform at Manchester Aiport Railway station..

In conjunction with the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), NWDA undertook a review of coach tourism in the region which identified volume and value of coaching tourism and identified the opportunities that operators face in supporting the Visitor Economy.

A Transport for Tourism symposium was held in 2008 involving key personnel from Tourism with the overall aim of increasing regional understanding of the importance of the transport infrastructure for tourism, and of identifying opportunities for constructive policy debate. 

In addition, NWDA working with Cumbria Tourism, the Lake District National Park Authority and other Cumbrian partners have commissioned work to prepare a sustainable transport framework for the Lake District National Park.