TOURISM


The future of regional tourism


What will happen to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)?


KURT JANSON is policy director of Tourism Alliance


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news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk 'Payback' scheme for North Wales


Visitors to pay extra levy to contribute towards environmental projects By Tom Walker


A new "visitor payback" initiative could see tourists contribute towards environmen- tal projects in North Wales under plans mooted by Tourism Partnership North Wales (TPNW). The organisation, which is responsible for


the strategic development of the region's tourism industry, said the scheme would be based on a similar initiative launched in the Lake District in 1993. Under TPNW's plans, visitors to North


ne of the key tourism issues to come out of the government’s coalition programme is the


uncertain future of the RDAs. The future of RDAs is of considerable


importance to tourism development and marketing since they were given statutory responsibility for tourism when they were created in 1999. Since then, they have been allocated around £2.2bn per annum, mostly through the


"single pot" administered by the Department for Business Enterprise and Skills. Of this, around £40m per annum has been directly spent on tourism development and promotion (well over three times VisitEngland’s budget). This allocation has helped deliver


considerable tourism benefits to the regions. However, the future of the RDAs is now under a cloud with the government stating that it will support the creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) – joint local authority-business bodies brought forward by local authorities to promote local economic development – to replace the RDAs. The transition from RDAs to LEPs


is not likely to be straight forward and there is a significant risk that the current level of tourism spending will not be maintained. If this expenditure is significantly reduced, then trying to achieve something approaching a seamless transfer of responsibilities and funding from RDAs to LEPs is shaping up to be one of the most challenging tasks for the sector and the Tourism Alliance.


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Wales will be asked to pay an extra amount in addition to their hotel bill or attraction admission fee – thought to be around £1. TPNW regional strategy director Dewi


Davies said: "We have eight million staying visitors a year in North Wales and 17 million day visitors. If each of those contributed only £1 each that would give us a very sustainable pot indeed."


Visitors to iconic venues will be asked to contribute towards eco projects


Conwy County Borough Council's


portfolio holder for communities, Goronwy Edwards, added: "It really seems to work well in the Lake District and I feel it is something well worth exploring. "There could be real benefits if hotels,


caravan park owners and others could be persuaded to raise the levy."


Riddle steps aside as VisitScotland chief exec By Pete Hayman


VisitScotland has revealed that chief executive Philip Riddle has stepped down from the role amid ongoing speculation regarding his future at the organisation. A VisitScotland spokesperson said: "We


Riddle has held the CEO role since 2001


can confirm that discussions are progress- ing in private with chief executive Philip Riddle concerning his position at VisitScot- land. To give Mr Riddle space to conduct these discussions in the light of unhelpful media speculation, he will not undertake chief executive duties in the meantime."


Visit York unveils new information centre


Tourism agency Visit York has unveiled a new visitor information centre, following the completion of a £900,000 project to replace an existing facility. The new Visit York Information Centre,


which is housed within a Grade II-listed building on Museum Street, is designed to act as a gateway for visitors and residents to the city and surrounding region. York


Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital


Conservation Trust, regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the City of York Council, and tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire have supported the development of the new centre. Facilities include an accommodation


booking service, an exhibition space, an itinerary planning service and a shop selling locally-produced goods.


© Cybertrek 2010


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