TOURISM - June 06 archive

Between 50 – 70% of the net economic benefit of staging the Games, measured over a 7 – 10 year period, will be accrued through tourism. It is anticipated that that the Games might generate around £2 billion for Britain’s visitor economy, and that two thirds of this growth occur between 2012 and 2016. It is against this backdrop that our Tourism sectoral task group, aka Kent Tourism Alliance’s Investors Steering Group, is identifying its own priorities to focus on, off the back of the opportunity that is the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A Destination Management system, A Big Day out, Kent’s “welcome and friendliness”, accessibility and appealing to the younger tourist, as well as no doubt reasserting Kent’s rightful reputation as the Garden of England, are all being considered as the priorities Kent’s may look to deliver as this county’s tourism legacy from the Games. A tourism workshop will be held this August to explore and finalise Kent’s early slant on our own 2012 opportunities.

Notwithstanding that, work continues apace in the use of 2012 as a tool of delivery in this sector over the course of this year, and together with Business Link Kent, the Kent Tourism Alliance are holding seminars on marketing and IT this autumn, to support tourism businesses developing their marketing professionalism in the run up to the Olympics and Paralympics. Please contact the KTA for further details, www.kenttourism.co.uk