Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Economic Development Item 2

17 June 2002

New Tourism Initiatives for 2003

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: Nicola Horsey, Ext. 5423

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1) That Discover Hampshire is split into two publications for 2003.

2) That the resultant saving in the budget is used for a walking and cycling break promotion for 2003.

2. Reason

2.1 To promote Hampshire's visitor attractions more effectively and cost efficiently and enable additional resources to be allocated to supporting rural tourism.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1 Not applicable.

4. Conflict of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1 Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor M J Woodhall

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Economic Development Item 2

17 June 2002

New Tourism Initiatives for 2003

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: Nicola Horsey, Ext. 5423

1. Summary

1.1 It is proposed to work in partnership with many of the district councils in Hampshire to split Discover Hampshire into two separate publications for 2003 and, using money saved, to focus on a walking and cycling promotion for 2003 as well.

2. Introduction

2.1 The tourism budget for 2002/03 allocates £30,000 to the production and distribution of the Discover Hampshire brochure for 2003.

2.2 Last summer 150,000 copies of Discover Hampshire were printed for 2001 and 2002 (copy attached) and distributed widely through Hampshire. The brochure is aimed at local people, many of whom will have friends and relatives to stay, and visitors once they are in Hampshire. Every visitor attraction in Hampshire, however, small, is included making Discover Hampshire the only totally comprehensive listing of the county's visitor attractions.

2.3 The difficulty arises that because there are so many visitor attractions in Hampshire, Discover Hampshire is relatively bulky and only about eight or so can be put in a standard sized literature carousel at any one time. The result is that they quickly run out and then it is up to the staff concerned to replenish stocks as quickly as possible. At the same time, many of the district councils produce their own visitor attraction leaflets, duplicating the information in Discover Hampshire and sometimes in their own brochures too.

3. Proposed way forward

3.1 It is proposed to split Discover Hampshire geographically into two publications for 2003, amalgamating the two publications with as many district councils as possible.

3.2 Not only would this save costs, but it would also save the visitor attraction being asked for the same information by 3-4 different local authorities. Amalgamation would also mean increasing the print run and therefore being able to distribute Discover Hampshire more widely both within Hampshire and the surrounding counties. It is proposed that the County Council provides £10,000 to each of the two publications for 2003.

3.3 It is suggested that the remaining £10,000 is used to part fund a walking and cycling short break promotion in partnership with the district councils that want to be involved. Initial discussions indicate that Rushmoor, Basingstoke and Deane, Hart, Test Valley, East Hampshire, Eastleigh and Havant might be interested in pursuing the concept with the County Council. Further research needs to be undertaken to assess the demand for such a promotion, but based on interest received so far for the Walking and Local Food Festival this autumn which includes special accommodation offers, it looks as though this could be an effective way of generating extra business for the rural areas of Hampshire.

Recommendations

1. That Discover Hampshire is split into two publications for 2003.

2. That the resultant saving in the budget is used for a walking and cycling short break promotion for 2003.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

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