Latest news with #LVEP
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Sussex tourism board aims to boost sector by £2.5bn
Tourism officials across Sussex are coming together to try and boost revenue in the sector by £2.5bn a year over the next East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and West Sussex Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) has appointment an advisory board to support the growth of the region's visitor tourism sector contributes £5bn annually to the region and supports more than 74,000 local jobs - which is 14% of all Roberts, interim chair of the advisory board, said: "Our collective ambition is to elevate Sussex as a leading destination, driving regenerative growth, celebrating our unique assets and ensuring the visitor economy benefits communities right across the region." The newly-appointed advisory board members include staff from Brighton Pier, South Downs National Park and private sector board members will join senior representatives from East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and West Sussex County Council, alongside two chief executives from local district and borough councils. Experience Sussex, VisitBrighton and a rotating representative from the LVEP's destination forum will also take part in Wall, lead cabinet member for economy and skills at West Sussex County Council, said: "It's a strong step towards our wider economic goals, positioning the region as a great place to live, work and invest, creating opportunities for residents and businesses alike." Despite welcoming the initiative, Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce CEO Christina Ewbank was concerned the board could swallow groups with a local focus."It needs to be certain that it spreads itself all across to Rye and up to Crowborough, taking in Eastbourne, and we mustn't lose what VisitEastbourne has achieved," she Ewbank added: "It just would be a shame to lose that identity."
Travel Daily News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Experience Oxfordshire survey shows complex business landscape
Oxfordshire's visitor economy shows growth in 2024, but rising costs, cautious investment, and changing consumer behavior challenge long-term sustainability and staffing levels. As businesses get ready to make the most of the schools' half-term holiday and approaching summer season, a recent survey from the county's Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and destination management organisation, Experience Oxfordshire, indicates a sector balancing a range of issues impacting on its sustainable growth. This years' Experience Oxfordshire Business Survey shows a complex picture. The majority of respondents, 75%, said that overall business performance had improved in 2024, (a 5% drop in positivity, however, when compared to the previous year's survey) with 68% reporting an increase in visitor numbers but 20% of operators seeing a drop when compared to 2023. Although 27% were cautious or concerned regarding business performance in the current year, 70% of respondents are expecting their business to perform well. 65% of respondents said that the current state of the UK economy is impacting negatively on their business, with a further 30% saying it was neither helping nor hindering. In particular businesses expressed concern about consumers with less disposable income and their own increased operating costs. Businesses have taken steps to mitigate the latter by increasing their prices, delaying investment, building or maintenance works and seeking additional income through diversification. 27% have reduced staffing levels which is a distinct change in circumstances from recent years when difficulties with staff recruitment and retention were a major cause for concern, affecting 41% of respondents in 2024 but this year only stated as an issue by 3%. Consumer booking behaviours established during the global pandemic are now standard with 50% of businesses stating that the current lead in time was under four weeks (a further 14% of businesses seeing the majority of their bookings made within seven days of arrival) and over half of businesses saying that over 75% of visitors pre-book products and experiences. When asked which interventions would help their business development unsurprisingly operators looked for a reduction in VAT, business rates, national insurance and the provision of sector specific development grants. At destination level, as in previous years, there was strong support for investment in marketing, use of marketing platforms to build relationships with visitors to encourage repeat trips and the benefit of high-quality, year-round experiences to be enjoyed by visitors and the local community. In recent years Experience Oxfordshire has demonstrated the effectiveness of such investment. Its recent Only in Oxfordshire campaign engaged with over 34 million individuals, generating some 750 thousand views of videos featuring inspirational Oxfordshire content. Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire commented: 'Our annual survey gives us the opportunity to gather information from a cross-section of businesses operating within the county's visitor economy and these results underline the key challenges facing these businesses today. Despite the fact that many saw an increase in visitor numbers and business performance last year, there is still widespread concern relating to rising operating costs. The measures being put in place to balance the books include a pause on investment, a trend we have seen for the last three years, and a worrying reduction in staffing levels. If continued longer term, these trends can lead to a decrease in customer satisfaction and enjoyment. Oxfordshire has more to offer visitors than many destinations, and this benefits us by attracting both domestic and international visitors. The global tourism marketplace, however, is highly competitive so it's essential that, despite the difficult operating environment, businesses maintain high standards of visitor welcome and experience. Experience Oxfordshire works with some 200 partners spanning the county's visitor economy and we know the excellent quality of experience on offer here. As VisitBritain's marketing partner we will be using all opportunities available to us this year to encourage key influencers at home and overseas to include Oxfordshire in their tour programmes, conference schedules and travel communications.' Oxfordshire's visitor economy is responsible for the employment of 10% of the local workforce, with 28.4 million visits to the county generating some £2.3 billion for the local economy. Experience Oxfordshire works with the media, travel trade and conference/event agencies within the UK and in key international markets to promote Oxfordshire and raise its profile as a great place to visit, work, live and do business with. It is the accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Oxfordshire and as such is the national tourism agencies VisitBritain / VisitEngland's go-to body for all matters relating to tourism development and delivery in the county.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism gets boost from industry body accreditation
Tourism in Wiltshire has been given a boost after the county become an accredited member of a scheme aimed at growing the sector. Wiltshire now has Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEP) status, which gives it access to a range of resources to attract greater footfall. At the moment, Wiltshire's tourism is worth around £1.5bn annually, with sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury Stone Circle, Stourhead, Salisbury Cathedral and the Westbury White Horse among its attractions. It's new LVEP means it will be included marketing activity and public relations opportunities set up by British tourism authority VisitBritain, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire VisitBritain will also provide VisitWiltshire, Wiltshire's tourism board, with support in applying for funding from the UK government. Wiltshire's tourism industry supports 28,000 jobs and contributes nine per cent of Wiltshire's total GDP. The application had to demonstrate funding support from the public sector, which was achieved via finances from Bradford on Avon, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Malmesbury, Pewsey and Trowbridge town councils. It also had to give evidence of wider public sector support, which Wiltshire Council provided by confirming their strategic support for tourism growth and funding of a new countywide tourism strategy and destination plan. More than 400 private tourism businesses also backed the application. David Andrews, chief executive of VisitWiltshire said: "We are delighted that VisitWiltshire have secured national LVEP status. "This is a major achievement with the potential to unlock new investment, grow tourism spend throughout the year, extend our reach in domestic and international markets, and better support our tourism and hospitality businesses." Andrew Stokes, director at VisitEngland, said: "The Local Visitor Economy Partnerships programme is transforming the visitor economy in England, supporting its growth in a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable way and I am delighted to welcome VisitWiltshire as the accredited Wiltshire LVEP." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More Wiltshire attractions are added to free app Tourists urged not to 'overwhelm' popular village Tourism app transports visitors to times gone by VisitWiltshire VisitBritain
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wiltshire tourism gets boost from industry body accreditation
Tourism in Wiltshire has been given a boost after the county become an accredited member of a scheme aimed at growing the now has Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEP) status, which gives it access to a range of resources to attract greater the moment, Wiltshire's tourism is worth around £1.5bn annually, with sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury Stone Circle, Stourhead, Salisbury Cathedral and the Westbury White Horse among its new LVEP means it will be included marketing activity and public relations opportunities set up by British tourism authority VisitBritain, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. VisitBritain will also provide VisitWiltshire, Wiltshire's tourism board, with support in applying for funding from the UK tourism industry supports 28,000 jobs and contributes nine per cent of Wiltshire's total application had to demonstrate funding support from the public sector, which was achieved via finances from Bradford on Avon, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Malmesbury, Pewsey and Trowbridge town also had to give evidence of wider public sector support, which Wiltshire Council provided by confirming their strategic support for tourism growth and funding of a new countywide tourism strategy and destination plan. More than 400 private tourism businesses also backed the Andrews, chief executive of VisitWiltshire said: "We are delighted that VisitWiltshire have secured national LVEP status."This is a major achievement with the potential to unlock new investment, grow tourism spend throughout the year, extend our reach in domestic and international markets, and better support our tourism and hospitality businesses."Andrew Stokes, director at VisitEngland, said: "The Local Visitor Economy Partnerships programme is transforming the visitor economy in England, supporting its growth in a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable way and I am delighted to welcome VisitWiltshire as the accredited Wiltshire LVEP."
