The South West Tourism Alliance

Weymouth Harbour

Over the last 6 months industry leaders have been working closely with the team at South West Tourism to ensure that critical services are safeguarded in 2011 and the tourism industry of the South West still receives the support it needs. The formation of The South West Tourism Alliance is the result of on-going negotiations in relation to those services which the industry value and the Alliance is the new vehicle to link these services and the industry together. 

At the recent Stakeholder meeting (21 January 2011) there was unanimous agreement that a tourism alliance made up of key stakeholders should be created. This will act as the overall custodial body for tourism in the South West - a body which would pick up the leadership function and focus for the industry after the closure of South West Tourism  on 31 March 2011.

In joining together and developing this approach issues can be addressed collectively and responses made collectively. The intention is that industry leaders will develop this alliance by drawing on the expertise of its members.  It also means that those services identified by the industry will be retained - research and intelligence, training, sustainability, Excellence awards and co-ordination.   

Most importantly, the industry will set the agenda.

SWT Chairman, Alistair Handyside, said: 'I am truly inspired by the hard work and focus of the industry and in the fact that they are rallying together to ensure continuity.  We are stronger together than apart and this approach will enable the South West to maintain its profile and prestige as a leading tourist destination.  With such focused leadership in this the transition year, I can only see a brighter future in terms of tourism support.  I would like to thank the industry for their support at this time, and the team at SWT for their continued commitment at what is a very difficult time for them all - both professionally and personally'

THE FUTURE

The key players in the South West's tourism industry have agreed to form THE SOUTH WEST TOURISM ALLIANCE which will carry forward some of the activities that would otherwise be lost when South West Tourism closes at the end of March 2011.

Key industry players offered their unanimous support for the new Alliance and work has now begun on formalising the arrangements and planning the continued delivery of projects such as research and intelligence, training and high-profile consumer and industry websites. This will mean a shared voice for the tourism industry; a clear direction for the sustainable and balanced development of the visitor economy; and the collection of data and intelligence to underpin the competitive performance of the industry.  Importantly, the consortium aims to safeguard the intellectual property built up since the tourist board was formed over 40 years ago. 

Jamie Christon, Spokesperson for THE SOUTH WEST TOURISM ALLIANCE said "This marks very good progress for the critical process of planning a smooth transition for the South West region.  The good news is that there will be a regional partnership and that decades of good work on issues such as research, training and sustainability will not be lost.  There remains a great deal of work to be completed over the coming weeks, but I am optimistic that our stakeholders will continue to work together to support this industry that is so vital for the economy in the South West"

Jamie added ‘Some real tourism heroes have emerged across the South West, to help us protect services for the region, rather than for their own personal or business gain.  We're safe now for 2011, it will be tight and we will have to work together.  We also have to consider how we, the tourism industry of the South West, can continue to make this happen from 2012 onwards'

KEY ACTIONS

The ALLIANCE - to date 30 stakeholder bodies or leading businesses have signed up to be FOUNDER members of the Alliance, and work is now in place to attract further support from across the region.  This means that, so far, over 25,000 people/businesses active in tourism and the visitor economy of the South West will be represented by The South West Tourism Alliance.

The FOUNDER members are those who commenced work on this approach in November 2010. If you think your membership organisation or representative body should be part of the Alliance, please do let us know.

There is a Management Committee focusing on the detail which includes: Andy Jasper (Eden Project), Christine Marshall (South West Food and Drink), Duncan Currall (Visit Devon), Jeremy Pope (Destination Dorset), Mark Smith (Chair of SW DMO forum), Mary Lynch (Bath Tourism Plus), Michael Smith (Venus Café), Leslie Watson (Sustainability South West), Alistair Handyside (Chair of SW Excellence Awards), and Paul Brunt (University of Plymouth). 

Spokesperson: Jamie Christon (Exeter Airport).

1 South West Food and Drink, Bath Tourism Plus, SW Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Exeter Airport, Devon and Cornwall Business Council, University of Exeter Business School, National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth University, Taste of the West, Tourism for All, Bournemouth and Poole DMO, Visit Devon, VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership, Cotswold DMO, Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions, The Bed & Breakfast Association, Sustainability South West, The Venus Company, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, Blue Chip Holidays, Arts Council SW, EASCO, Premier Cottages, Visit Cornwall, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Visit Dorset, BH&HPA, Somerset County Council, The English Riviera Tourism Company, the Eden Project 

Date added: Monday 21st March 2011
Latest updated: Thursday 8th March 2012