THE visit of a Government tourism minister to Dorset was a 'turning point' for the county, an MP has said.

Nigel Huddleston, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, visited the area to meet with West Dorset MP Chris Loder.

Mr Loder hailed the visit as a 'turning point' for tourism in west Dorset and said it was the first time a tourism minister had visited the area in decades.

Mr Loder said: “My objective was to ensure the government has west Dorset at the top of its agenda in supporting our economy and its post-Covid recovery. We had an excellent day with the minister, showing off West Dorset. From the Sherborne Abbey, the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Jurassic Coast, to our brilliant Dorset Museum and Kingston Maurward to name only a few.

"We have definitely succeeded with getting the Government to recognise how important our tourism economy is and the enormous potential we have here in west Dorset.

He added: “I raised and discussed many important issues with the minister. These included the need to get west Dorset on the international map, ensure maximum value is gained by visitors, business owners, and west Dorset residents.”

Mr Loder hosted three meetings during the ministerial visit, including one with the Dorset Tourism Association, Jurassic Coast Trust and West Dorset Holidays, another with Dorset Museum, the Dorset LEP, and National Trust, and finally with Dorset Council cabinet members.

The MP discussed recruitment and staffing challenges as well as the opportunities ahead and his desire to get improvements at local railway train stations.