South West

Tourism is a key industry for the South West with virtually all communities in the region touched in some way by the visitor economy. Visitor related spend is worth £8.9 billion to the South West economy, supporting around 237,000 jobs. Approximately 18,000 businesses are involved in the provision of accommodation and attractions with many others in the retail, catering and transport sectors relying on visitor spending.

Popular with domestic visitors, the region is famed for its stunning coastline, the longest of any region, spectacular scenery and wonderful countryside. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover approximately a fifth of the region.

A regional tourist board, working in partnership with the Regional Development Agency, supports the development of tourism in the South West, while the region s destinations are marketed by nine sub-regional organisations.

South West of England Regional Development Agency

The Regional Development Agency, South West RDA, together with South West Tourism is responsible for developing the region s tourism strategy “Towards 2015” and facilitating change through partnership work. The strategy is focused on anticipating and exceeding visitors’ needs, with an emphasis placed on promoting high quality customer experiences.

Working closely with its regional partners and South West Tourism, the South West RDA has invested significantly in projects to support the region s tourism industry. The development of skills has been identified as area and projects such as Tourism Skills 2015 aim to help businesses increase productivity by assisting in the improvement of staff training and recruitment.

South West Tourism

The regional tourist board, South West Tourism, is the princpale agency and guardian for “Towards 2015” and encourages the development of tourism in the nine visitor-recognised tourism destinations: Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth/Poole, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, The Cotswolds/Forest of Dean, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The key aims of South West Tourism are: to see the South West recognised as a model tourism destination and assist in growing the value of a sustainable visitor economy year round.

Key People

South West Tourism

Chief Executive Malcolm Bell
Head of Sales & Marketing Kirsty Cumming
Partnerships Executive Oliver Laity
PR & Communications Executive Liz Dale

Contact Details

South West Tourism Ltd
Woodwater Park
Exeter
EX2 5WT
Tel: 01392 360050
Fax: 01392 445112
Email format initialsurname@swtourism.co.uk
Industry website: www.swtourism.co.uk
Visitor website: www.visitsouthwest.co.uk


South West of England Regional Development Agency
Corporate Headquarters
Sterling House
Dix s Field
Exeter
Devon
EX1 1QA
Telephone: 01392 214 747
Fax: 01392 214 848
Email: enquiries@southwestrda.org.uk
Website: www.southwestrda.org.uk

Sub Regional

Destination Management Organisations

With the aim of creating leaner, more cost-effective and efficient structures across the region, nine Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) have been established with the support of South West Tourism. The DMO’s, operating as public / private partnerships, work to progress the aims of “Towards 2015” at their destination level and offer membership schemes for tourism businesses.

The nine organisations are:

· Bath Tourism Plus
· Bournemouth & Poole Tourism
· Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean DMO
· Destination Bristol
· Destination Dorset
· Somerset Tourism Partnership
· Visit Cornwall (includes the Isles of Scilly)
· Visit Devon
· Visit Wiltshire

Sunday, 5 September 2010