Universal park could 'dramatically' change tourism

Blake Stephenson hopes the theme park could attract millions of visitors each year

A government minister has said he hoped "dramatic" change to tourism could be achieved with a proposed new Universal Studios theme park.

In a parliamentary debate Sir Chris Bryant told Blake Stephenson, MP for Mid Bedfordshire, he was hopeful the attraction would boost visitor numbers to the United Kingdom.

In 2023, Universal Destinations and Experiences bought a 476-acre (193-hectare) area of land in Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford with a view to build a new theme park and resort experience.

Mr Stephenson, who tabled the tourism debate, said: "Universal could be the key to unlock the Government's growth mission in Bedfordshire."

However, tourism minister Sir Chris declined to "enter into the specifics" of ongoing discussions about the proposals for Universal Studios which could create a total of 20,000 jobs and, when operational, generate nearly £50bn for the UK.

He said: "I am very hopeful that we will be able to get to the very significant and dramatic change that this would make not only to visitor numbers in Bedfordshire but for the whole of the United Kingdom."

Universal already has five entertainment and resort complexes around the world including in the United States, Japan and China.

Sir Chris said the UK had still not yet seen overseas visitor numbers comparable to before the Covid pandemic but said there was a need to be "ambitious" with the government's tourism strategy.

The land for the Universal Resort is located along the East West Rail route, which he said could unlock "tens of thousands of new homes and jobs".

'Turbocharge'

During the debate, Mr Stephenson boasted about what the area has to offer for visitors including its historic sites and heritage.

He said commuter towns outside London tend to be places people pass through and instead should be "promoted as destinations".

He said: "Bedfordshire should be a prime location for a thriving tourism industry.

"Where what used to be the world's largest brickworks site at Stewartby in my constituency... now it has the potential to power our local economy again as the home of the Universal UK theme park project."

He hoped the development would offer the region an opportunity to "turbocharge" tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors while bringing about 12m visitors each year.