British Tourist Authority supports theme park near Bicester

VisitBritain and, which is funded by the Government, said it “strongly supports” the Puy du Fou proposal to be built north of Bicester near junction 10 of the M40.

It said the operator “offers a truly distinctive visitor experience through its historic theme park concept” and said it “can see the potential for this project to generate significant interest and excitement among domestic and international visitors alike.”

In the supporting letter, Andrew Stokes, director of the British Tourist Authority, said the agency has been impressed by its established track record in France and Spain and its collaborative approach in working with Experience Oxfordshire, the VisitEngland-accredited local visitor economy partnership for the county.

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Puy du Fou says that by the time the park is fully developed, it will directly employ around 2,000 people, support a further 6,000 jobs in hotels, restaurants, suppliers and other local businesses, and deliver a £500m annual boost to the local and regional economy.

Mr Stokes detailed the anticipated long-term economic benefits for Oxfordshire and the Cherwell district, noting a published report in January which highlighted that tourism activity contributed to a Gross Domestic Product impact of £147b, supporting 2.4 million jobs in 2024.

“Tourism has a significantly positive regional economic impact across the UK”, he said, “Relevant to Oxfordshire and Cherwell, the South East region is the second largest recipient, accounting for £17 of economic activity in 2024.”