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The Environment Agency is advising tourism businesses across the South West to find out whether their business is in a flood risk area.
Understanding what you can do to reduce the risk and taking action in advance are the key steps in preparing for and reducing the emotional and financial costs flooding can cause.
For more information visit the Environment Agency website at:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk where you can check your flood risk and get practical advice.
Monday 21 July 2008
Government is failing to give the tourism industry the support it needs
On the 10th July The Culture, Media and Sport Committee published its Eighth Report in Session 2007-08, Tourism (HC 133). The Committee finds that the Government is failing to give the necessary support to UK tourism during a challenging period for the industry.
Key overview:
• The Committee is concerned by the "lack of confidence the industry appears to have in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport" and is discouraged to see that "responsibility for tourism has been so frequently transferred between Departmental Ministers, creating an impression that it is seen as an afterthought which has to fit in with their other responsibilities."
• The Committee specifically criticises the Government for its decision to cut the funding for VisitBritain, the body responsible for promoting UK tourism destinations overseas.
• Under the reduced funding settlement, the Committee finds it difficult to see how the Government's strategy to maximise the tourism benefits from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can be realised.
• The Committee found that the UK is perceived to offer poor levels of customer service and quality of "welcome".
• The Committee concludes that high visa prices are a further constraint on attracting overseas visitors to the UK.
• Statistics on the tourism industry were widely criticised in the Committee's inquiry for their inaccuracy and inadequacy, disadvantaging tourism in comparison to other industries. The Government undertook a review of tourism statistics in 2004, yet the Committee found that the report's recommendations have been "implemented only in a very limited and piecemeal fashion".
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said about the report:
“South West Tourism welcomes the report, and agrees completely with their conclusions. In addition to the fact that not only is tourism not being taken seriously, it is being taken for granted, which is quite unbelievable given the impact on the economy of rapid reduction in the tourism industry in the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.
We also welcome the recommendation that the Government should take a serious look at the benefits of introducing Double British Summer Time.
It is vital that the Government quickly understands what is needed at local, regional and national level to ensure that the tourism industry prospers and delivers a multitude of benefits to other businesses, our communities and region as a whole.
We call on the Government to take the report seriously and to act."
To view the full report please visit: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcumeds.htm.
Key overview:
• The Committee is concerned by the "lack of confidence the industry appears to have in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport" and is discouraged to see that "responsibility for tourism has been so frequently transferred between Departmental Ministers, creating an impression that it is seen as an afterthought which has to fit in with their other responsibilities."
• The Committee specifically criticises the Government for its decision to cut the funding for VisitBritain, the body responsible for promoting UK tourism destinations overseas.
• Under the reduced funding settlement, the Committee finds it difficult to see how the Government's strategy to maximise the tourism benefits from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can be realised.
• The Committee found that the UK is perceived to offer poor levels of customer service and quality of "welcome".
• The Committee concludes that high visa prices are a further constraint on attracting overseas visitors to the UK.
• Statistics on the tourism industry were widely criticised in the Committee's inquiry for their inaccuracy and inadequacy, disadvantaging tourism in comparison to other industries. The Government undertook a review of tourism statistics in 2004, yet the Committee found that the report's recommendations have been "implemented only in a very limited and piecemeal fashion".
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said about the report:
“South West Tourism welcomes the report, and agrees completely with their conclusions. In addition to the fact that not only is tourism not being taken seriously, it is being taken for granted, which is quite unbelievable given the impact on the economy of rapid reduction in the tourism industry in the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.
We also welcome the recommendation that the Government should take a serious look at the benefits of introducing Double British Summer Time.
It is vital that the Government quickly understands what is needed at local, regional and national level to ensure that the tourism industry prospers and delivers a multitude of benefits to other businesses, our communities and region as a whole.
We call on the Government to take the report seriously and to act."
To view the full report please visit: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcumeds.htm.
Credit Crunch – Tourism business tips
There has been a lot of media coverage recently regarding the credit crunch and increase in fuel prices and the effect this will have on the tourism industry, especially as we are now in those important summer months.
Therefore, we have listed some practical tips for your consideration:
1) It is important to add value to your tourism product and re-evaluate your offerings. For example, look at your menu / bed and breakfast prices and see if you can add anything which might attract more visitors. Visitors will increasingly be looking at prices to determine where they go this year, however, it is important not to compromise on quality – now is the time to be innovative and sell on ‘value’.
2) Save energy and save money - find ways of saving money by reducing your energy consumption and download a FREE fact sheet from: www.swtourism.co.uk/green/action-of-the-year/energy-resources.ashx.
3) Late bookings - make sure you add late booking offers to your own websites and other related sites. Try and target your specific audience, (e.g. family breaks / adventure related / romantic / city breaks etc)
4) Keep in touch with your existing customer database – inform visitors of any events that are taking place in your area, or any events you might be organising.
5) Make sure you are getting the most out of your website and re-evaluate your website ranking (e.g. your listing on search engines) – can your website be found with ease?
Therefore, we have listed some practical tips for your consideration:
1) It is important to add value to your tourism product and re-evaluate your offerings. For example, look at your menu / bed and breakfast prices and see if you can add anything which might attract more visitors. Visitors will increasingly be looking at prices to determine where they go this year, however, it is important not to compromise on quality – now is the time to be innovative and sell on ‘value’.
2) Save energy and save money - find ways of saving money by reducing your energy consumption and download a FREE fact sheet from: www.swtourism.co.uk/green/action-of-the-year/energy-resources.ashx.
3) Late bookings - make sure you add late booking offers to your own websites and other related sites. Try and target your specific audience, (e.g. family breaks / adventure related / romantic / city breaks etc)
4) Keep in touch with your existing customer database – inform visitors of any events that are taking place in your area, or any events you might be organising.
5) Make sure you are getting the most out of your website and re-evaluate your website ranking (e.g. your listing on search engines) – can your website be found with ease?
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