Bath Tourism wins support from from Regional Growth Fund

1st November 2011

The 3-Year tourism project, ‘Growing Tourism Locally’ will stimulate economic growth and jobs at a local level

VisitEngland's bid for additional funding from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) was successful; it was announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The RGF has identified projects that have the potential to create new jobs - and tourism is seen as an industry that can grow.

Bath is one of a small number of destinations in England that will be allocated additional funds by Visit England to support a marketing campaign designed to bring new jobs to the area

The money will be used on a three-year project entitled, ‘Growing Tourism Locally’. A key part of the project will be a national campaign aimed at inspiring Britons to take more short breaks and holidays at home and in doing so grow jobs in the tourism sector.

The campaign will capitalise on next year’s once-in-a-generation events like London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Diamond Jubilee, the Cultural Olympiad, and the Torch Relay that will act as a catalyst to showcase the whole of the country.   

The funding applied for will be allocated to a number of destination partners in England that will work closely with VisitEngland to design and implement local campaigns.  Some of those partners have already been confirmed and include Marketing Manchester, Marketing Birmingham, Bath Tourism Plus, Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, Cumbria Tourism and Visit York.   In addition to targeted activity in these areas there will be a series of thematic campaigns focusing on countryside, heritage, coastal and business tourism

James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive commented:

“With this additional money we can mount a serious campaign to stimulate domestic tourism that has the potential to create the equivalent of 9,500 full time jobs in areas across the country suffering economic challenges.

Our strategy is to work with tourism partners and the private sector at a national and local level. Our partners will manage elements of the campaign pertaining directly to their local destination, whilst VisitEngland will manage the national strategy which will support this local activity. We will work closely with Government on the next stage of the process which determines the terms and conditions of the funding.”

Mary Lynch, Chair of Bath Tourism Plus commented:

“We are delighted that tourism has been recognised as an engine of economic growth and an industry that can quickly create jobs. Bath has been chosen as it is a jewel in the crown of English tourism; it is recognised and loved all over the world. This money means we can work with businesses in the area to do a first class job in promoting this beautiful place.”    

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Notes to Editors:  

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Lucy Ryder at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_ryder@bathtourism.co.uk or visit www.visitbath.co.uk, the official tourism website for Bath and the surrounding area.

Bath Tourism Plus

Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk