This latest newsletter follows hot on the heels of the launch of the Tourism Action Plan which includes information on the Discover England Fund, and reveals the first round of winners. The newsletter also sets out details about the Tourism Industry Council and an announcement from HM Treasury regarding funding for projects following the decision to leave the EU.
Launch of the Tourism Action Plan
The Tourism Action Plan was published just before the August bank holiday and sets out a series of new initiatives and measures to help Britain out-compete other major tourism destinations, welcoming more international visitors than ever before and seeing more “staycations” as Brits holiday at home.
The Discover England Fund
First winners announced
The first seven winners of the £40 million Discover England Fund have been announced. The successful projects include an online platform that brings together England’s golf-related businesses and a scheme highlighting experiences and itineraries along the South West Coast Path.
Funds are being awarded to projects and organisations that help to promote tourism outside of London and improve travel to these towns and cities. The second round of funding will focus on large-scale collaborative projects, worth more than £1 million and delivered over a two year period.
Coastal Cities
Support for tourism destinations revealed
Alongside the Tourism Action Plan, the Department for Communities and Local Government announced support for a number of coastal cities and towns. 20 coastal community teams will be set up to work with the local populations to restore tourist attractions to their former glory.
The scheme will build on the work of the 118 nationwide team of volunteers already working to improve their coastal communities.
EU Funding Announcement
Treasury confirms continuation of funding
On the 13th August, HM Treasury published correspondence between David Gauke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, regarding EU funding commitments. The letter sets out the Government's commitment to funding EU projects following Brexit to help address uncertainty for industries and organisations which are recipients of this money.
The first application window for this funding closes on 16th September. VisitBritain (VB) has launched its four year Event Support Programme to help the UK’s international business events industry grow and develop. VB will offer advocacy from Government Ministers, overseas diplomatic missions and the Department of International Trade as well as a funding pool, which is open to applications.
The Great Exhibition of the North
The event will be held in the summer of 2018, and will celebrate the great art, culture, and design of the North of England. Following an open selection process, four cities/towns were shortlisted in July: Blackpool, Bradford, Newcastle Gateshead and Sheffield. The Great Exhibition of the North board, chaired by Sir Gary Verity, will now make a recommendation to Ministers on which city/town should host the Exhibition, and we hope to make an announcement shortly.
The Great British Food campaign is encouraging tourists to follow their tastebuds to exciting new British destinations. Follow their Instagram account for some delicious inspiration.
Tourism Industry Council
The Tourism Industry Council met on the 5th September. This was the first meeting since the vote to leave the EU and focussed specifically on the impact of Brexit on the industry. The minutes will be published on gov.uk very shortly.
The Great Place Scheme
Deadline for Expressions of Interest is 6th October 2016 and for full applications is 12th January 2017. We expect Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England to announce the 12 successful Places in the pilot phase of the Scheme by the end of March 2017. You can apply by visiting the Great Place Scheme website.
VisitEngland visit figures released
Latest figures from VisitEngland show a 15% increase in the number of day trips across Great Britain between January and July 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. These visits were worth £31.7 billion in total, an increase of 8% on the year before.
You can expect your next DCMS: Tourism Newsletter in October. In the meantime, you can keep up with us on the DCMS blog or through our social media accounts:
