21 December 2024
VisitEngland has announced the 10 finalists to make the shortlist of its annual search to find the unsung hero of England’s tourism industry.
VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition, now in its 13th year, seeks out champions working in tourism who provide the most memorable experiences for visitors, as well as showcasing the variety and quality of England’s tourism offer and destinations. VistEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists are:
- Andy Yeoman, Dartmoor Zoo, Devon
- Wendy Wilshere, 11Arches/Kynren, County Durham
- Zeb Fisher, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Isle of Wight
- Ben Francis, ROARR!, Norfolk
- Steve Johnson, Scarborough North Bay Railway, North Yorkshire
- Max Sadgrove, Adventure Island, Essex
- Graham Barclay, Adam Henson’s Cotswold Park Farm, Gloucestershire
- Southampton Saints, City of Southampton Port, Hampshire
- Hannah Clapp, Muncaster Castle, Gardens & Estate, Cumbria
- The team at Leicester Museums & Galleries, Leicestershire
GO! Southampton’s welcome volunteers, aptly nicknamed Southampton Saints, have made the final shortlist for this respected award. The volunteer programme launched earlier this year, to enhance the cruise passenger welcome when visitors arrive in the city. The group of local enthusiasts have been providing tourists with useful information and directions on where to go and what to see, showcasing the best that Southampton has to offer.
Stephen Manion, Executive Director at GO! Southampton said: “This recognition by the Visit England Tourism Superstar award is fantastic. We are so proud of our Saints, whose passion and love for the city is shared with thousands of cruise passengers who visit Southampton.”
The public can vote for their favourite superstar on VisitEngland’s website from mid-February 2025 when the competition officially opens. Short films of all the finalists, carrying out their duties in their tourism roles, and promoting their local destinations will be shown on VisitEngland’s website to support with voting. Voting runs until the end of English Tourism Week (ETW). ETW takes place from 14-23 March 2025.
The superstar with the highest number of votes is crowned winner at the end of the competition with the Tourism Superstar award handed out in spring at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence event. For more information on VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists go to VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards UK | VisitBritain.org
Tourism is one of England’s largest, most valuable industries, supporting more than 200,000 businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2023, generating £70.5 billion in domestic visitor spending.
