Business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire say the region will be a major draw for visitors from across the country as the economy reopens.

Louise Bennett, the chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, believes the city and the county are perfectly placed to attract tourists from all over the UK in the coming weeks and months.

Speaking in the middle of English Tourism Week (May 22-May 31), Louise said: "With more businesses now able to open after the lifting of further restrictions on May 17, Coventry and Warwickshire is the place to be this summer.

"It's great to see so many of our hospitality and leisure operators being able to return to doing what they best – being open, trading and serving customers.

"Our region always has so much to offer visitors and attracts people from all over the world and, while it may take time for the global market to return, certainly we'd hope to see domestic tourists heading to the region.

"Coventry's year as UK City of Culture is now underway and is really helping to put the region in the spotlight – attracting national media coverage and special visitors such as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall this week.

"Again, as the restrictions lift further, we can expect to see more people heading to the city and the region to make the most of what City of Culture is going to offer – from live music through to the Turner Prize.

"There is no denying that the past 14 months has been the most difficult period that businesses have experienced – especially those in leisure, hospitality and tourism.

"It is, of course, going to take time for businesses to begin to recover from the crisis and more support is going to be required as they turn from survival mode to, hopefully, beginning to grow again.

"It is important, therefore, to give visitors the confidence to come back to Coventry and Warwickshire and make the most of this exciting period as the economy reopens and our region takes its place firmly in the spotlight."