A CONFERENCE focusing on the role of tourism in the rural economy is being called for by a local MP.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman is opening up the debate on tourism in Teesdale and wants local people to get involved.

She cites strengths such as the Bowes Museum, the dale's scenery and its historic castles as magnets for drawing in visitors.

And she says that investment should be concentrated on providing quality accommodation, better restaurants and greater workforce skills, rather than spending money on new attractions.

Her views, and her refusal to support a controversial rope bridge over the Tees at Barnard Castle, brought her into conflict with businessman Chris Dauber yesterday.

He called for her resignation, claiming she was nave and did not understand the tourism industry.

But Ms Goodman said: "We have the Bowes Museum, castles at Raby, Bowes and Barnard Castle itself, Newbiggin and Rokeby.

"Within half an hour's drive, we have the new Locomotion Museum, the Gaunless, the Zurbarans in the Bishop's Palace, Escomb and Binchester.

"No reasonable person pausing to reflect on this could think anything other than that we have an amazing wealth of attractions to the area.

"This is why I am deeply sceptical about the proposal for a rope bridge in Teesdale."

Ms Goodman said the bridge, which would be built on an environmentally-sensitive site, would need new infrastructure such as car parks, a visitor centre and road improvements.

She said: "Instead I believe we need to invest in relevant skills and small businesses and entrepreneurs.

"There are good eating places, some well-known like Baillies and the Rose and Crown, and others less so like Cornforth and Cornforth.

"We need more of these and investment in good quality accommodation.

"As well as investing in training, we need a programme to share best practice locally and develop better transport links like the A66 improvements."

Mr Dauber, from Teesdale Marketing, said: "I am staggered by the total lack on understanding Ms Goodman displays on tourism issues.

"By refusing Teesdale Marketing's repeated invitations to listen to the cause for the bridge, she is failing her electorate spectacularly."