Tourism and Local Authorities – the Devon

Perspective

Rosie Bates Economic Development Manager,

Devon County Council

DCC – Economy and Enterprise

2012/13 Economy Service focus areas• Remove Barriers to growth to achieve a

flourishing and balanced economy• Overarching Strategy for Growth• Infrastructure Development• Funding • Business Support• Workforce skills and Innovation • Economic Analysis• Partnerships

DCC and Tourism

• Historically strong focus – Discover Devon Naturally, strategic support

• Key partner in forming Visit Devon as a DMO

• Funded Visit Devon for 4 years under SLA arrangement

• Maintained role in sustainability and skills• Budget cuts put pressure on support for any

one particular sector

DCC and Tourism

• Accountable Body Partner in Devon Tourism Partnership

• £15k of funding per year, 1 day per week staff resource

• Maintain the strategic focus of the partnership

• Development of the product – skills, quality, awards

Visit Devon....

• Closed on 31 March 2012

• New Devon Tourism Partnership– Strategy and industry support – quality,

awards, skills– Promote and Protect the Visit Devon brand –

campaigns and PR– Research and monitoring

• Resourced by partners (6 x ATPs, DATA, DCC)

Devon Tourism Partnership

• New Portal Website launched in September

• Mobile website in development

• Re-tendering PR contract

• ‘Active’ campaign contracted for 2013

• Industry Awards

• Reviewing accommodation grading in Devon

• Planning Visitor Survey