Ensuring support for tourism

As you are aware, South West Tourism is fully funded by the South West RDA and has a funding agreement in place until April 2011. The Board of South West Tourism are working with the RDA to consider options post 2011, and from 2012 onwards to ensure that there remains a focus on what is critical to businesses in the South West, both now and in the future.

The current work around reviewing the strategy has highlighted those services which are valued by the industry and by both regional and local public bodies, and it will be the focus of the South West Tourism Board over the coming months to ensure that our industry and the future of tourism is prioritised - within existing and emerging structures.

The Board will be developing options and will be testing these with business groups and the Destination Management Organisation forum - and the team at South West Tourism will also be inputting into the emerging thinking around the tourism element of LEPs as well as the implementation of the national framework at sub regional level. 

We know that research and co-ordination (notably around marketing and sustainability) remains high on the agenda, as does acting as the Voice of the industry through profile, press and lobbying - this knowledge and evidence will give us a good basis on which to build our thinking. In addition to this, South West Tourism has traditionally carried out a number of activities that support businesses and Destination organisations, particularly where the economies of scale offer value for money; we must not lose sight of this.

What is important to us is that there are no gaps - please do seek us out for our views, support and knowledge; the positive, profitable and sustainable future of our industry will depend on co-operation and collaboration, rather than competition, this is a critical time to make sure that the future structures work and can deliver, with reducing budgets and resources.

By Alistair Handyside, Chairman of South West Tourism

Date added: Tuesday 6th July 2010
Latest updated: Thursday 8th March 2012