Great South West Tourism Partnership

The Great South West Tourism Partnership was formed as a new group at the start of COVID to provide ‘joined up’ and rapid support to the thousands of Tourism and Hospitality businesses across the South West impacted by COVID lockdowns. Members include:

• Torbay Development Agency (TDA) – providing secretarial support funded by the SWLEP. 
• South West Tourism Alliance
• ERBID Company
• Visit Devon
• Devon County Council
• Visit Cornwall
• Visit Dorset
• Visit Somerset   
• Visit Exmoor
• Visit Exeter
• Devon County Council
• Devon & Cornwall Business Council
• Visit England

Key issues discussed regularly by England’s Great South West Tourism Partnership include:

1. Funding Opportunities

Considerable help was secured jointly by the GSWTP working closely with Government and including our own MP Kevin Foster including:

• DMO Marketing Recovery Fund
• Welcome Back Marketing Fund
• Energy Support Package

2. Lobbying Government

Including instigating regular meetings with MPs across the South West in staging specific Tourism APPG Meetings to raise the industry’s key concerns at the time, including:

• Financial support, extending furlough
• National Accommodation Statutory Registration
• Reducing the VAT Rate
• Issues concerning recruitment
• Issues concerning accommodation for Asylum Seekers

Meeting regularly with the Government’s Head of Tourism and our local MP these issues are continuously on the agenda and debated.

3. Research

Undertaking regular South West Business Impact surveys to collect hard evidence regarding the impact of COVID on businesses. The survey evidence was shared with Government, local MPs and Councillors to lobby for financial support and demonstrate how vitally important the Tourism and Hospitality Sector is to the Economy.