PLANS have been set in motion to provide a major boost to top tourist locations in Halton.

Directors of museums and hotel bosses from across the borough were among invited guests attending a Tourism Business Network Roadshow - launched to increase the area's prosperity at Lawson House in Runcorn.

The business training scheme event - entitled SkillWorks - was organised by The Merseyside Partnership in conjunction with Greater Merseyside Enterprise -to increase skills and competition between companies.

It aimed to offer businesses the skills and advice needed to capitalise on future growth within the borough's tourism industry.

But the idea is also to maximise links with tourist attractions in Liverpool, to keep visitors flowing into the North West area.

Among the businesses in attendance were Norton Priory Museum in Runcorn and the Catalyst science and discovery centre in Widnes.

The high turnout also comprised bed and breakfast venues, to include hotels, visitor attractions and restaurants.

Chris Brown, director of operations at The Mersey Partnership and tourism sector director for Merseyside, said: 'The Tourism Business Network Roadshow was an ideal way of bringing together support programmes and initiatives under one umbrella.

'I encouraged all businesses working in the tourism industry in Halton to come along to the event, especially those engaged previously in support programmes.

'We focused particularly on skills development initiatives like Skill-Works, which pays 80% of the training costs.'

In the past, the borough has played a secondary role next to neighbouring attractions such as the Albert Dock in Liverpool.

However, attractions such as Norton Priory Museum in Run-corn - which has currently been shortlisted for the Gulbenkian Prize - Britain's largest arts prize -are fast providing an important economic boost for Halton.

And Christine Allison, director of the Catalyst, is also acutely aware of the importance of the tourist industry, having received the CATS award 2003 for best practice in tourism skills.

She described SkillWorks as a highly beneficial event, bringing industry ideas in Greater Merseyside closer to Halton.

She said: 'The event got a brilliant turnout, and there were a number of influential speakers there including members of Halton's Chamber of Commerce and a lecturer from John Moores University to promote the idea of providing better links between tourist venues across the North West.

'Steven Miller, the director of Norton Priory, was in attendance, and so was John Doyle from Runcorn ski slope.

'I found it a highly beneficial occasion, and it was a lot to do with training to ensure we improve the existing skill base of our workforce.

'It was also concerned with protecting smaller businesses in the area, with advice given about improving human resources, employment and health and safety contracts in business.'

One of the ideas highlighted at the roadshow was to draw closer links with Liverpool by simply providing a Halton link on the Liverpool tourism website.

Mrs Allison added: 'We're very interested in being involved in what is called the destination management system in future, to improve our existing tourism links with Liverpool, and maximise incoming investment.

'It is important that rather than being over-shadowed or eclipsed by tourist venues in a big city, we can work with them to our own benefit.'