Transcript EUTO Study Visit Thursday 27th September

EUTO Study Visit
Thursday 27th September
Cllr Chris Ridgers
Portfolio Holder for Economy and
Regeneration
Cornwall
• Cornwall has a GDP of 62% of the
United Kingdom average
• Location in extreme far west of UK
• Celtic heritage and strong identity with
Cornish language, flag and cultural
traditions
• 12 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- precious landscapes whose natural
beauty is outstanding
Cornwall
• 400 miles of stunning coastal and river estuary
scenery, including more than 300 beaches.
• Cornish Mining World Heritage – largest WHS in
UK covering 20,000 hectares
• High quality food and drink
• Thriving arts and crafts scene
About Us
• Cornwall Council has economic
development and low carbon economic
growth at the heart of its ambitions for
Cornwall.
• VisitCornwall is the official tourist board for
Cornwall
Cornwall’s Visitor Economy
• 4.5milllion trips by staying visitors
• 25+ million bed nights
• The average length of stay in Cornwall was 6+
nights
• 231,000 available bed space capacity
• £1.4 Billion total visitor spend
• Circa 12% GVA and 20%GDP
• 39,100 Full time equivalent jobs
Award Winning Destination
• Cornwall won “Best UK Holiday County or Region” for
the third year running.
• St Ives won “Best UK Seaside Town” for the second year
running (visiting next day),
• Eden Project won “Best UK Leisure Attraction” - British
Travel Awards 2011.
From Mass to Niche Tourism
• Water sports – surfing and sailing
• Food and drink – more Michelin starred chefs per head of
population than any other area of the UK including London
• Arts and Tourism
• Walking and cycling
• Industrial heritage/Cornish Mining World Heritage
Visit Cornwall Activities
• Tourism Strategy & Policy
• Tourism Development
• Marketing & PR For Cornwall
• Digital Presence
• Industry Services & Events
• Research Activities
• Festivals & Events
• Tourist Information Support
• Press Relations
:
How we measure Tourism
in Cornwall
• Visitor Surveys
• Business Surveys
• Economic Impact
• Community Attitude Surveys
• Environmental Impact studies
• Carbon/Ecological Foot printing
:
The
Challenges
Challenges
• The digital world – empowered consumers
• Competition: UK and elsewhere
• Weather – but…..
• When the Euro weakens
• Welcome and Service
• Knowledge about existing & future visitors
• Shaping and developing tourism
• Climate change, sustainable tourism
Final Thoughts
It’s a way of thinking and acting
It is about making your destination a
better place to live and play and then
invite others who will enjoy it to come
You can get the tourism you want – not
the tourism you will get if you do not
plan and act effectively !