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Visit Devon joins the Great South West Tourism Partnership

2nd November 2020

Categories: Member News

DMOs (Destination Management Organisations) and the SWTA (South West Tourism Alliance) have come together across the South West to form the Great South West Tourism Partnership (the GSWTP).

The new partnership is an inclusive, equitable alliance that brings together the strength, knowledge and expertise of the leading tourism organisations across the south west region which includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. It also includes the unitary authorities in Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The lead organisations in the GSWTP are Visit Cornwall, Visit Devon, Destination Plymouth, English Riviera BID Company, Visit Somerset, Visit Exmoor, Visit Dorset and the South West Tourism Alliance.

Tourism and hospitality is one of the UK’s largest, most diverse and interconnected sectors of the UK economy, generating high levels of revenue and employment across all parts of the country. The South West’s tourism economy is the largest single visitor region outside of London, attracting around 17 million staying visitors giving an estimated economic impact of £11.3 billion.

Research undertaken by the South West Research Company, the Great South West Covid-19 Impact Survey, has shown the following for the months of Jan-July 2020:

The average change in business turnover is 56% and as a consequence, it is estimated that approx £2.2 billion of anticipated tourism business turnover will be lost in the Great South West region (Jan-July 2020).
If the supply chain is also considered, it is estimated a further loss of £486m is lost to the GSW economy.
5% of businesses remain closed; 33% of businesses are now open, but are actually operating at 75% capacity or less (including 15% operating at 50% capacity or less).
Only 30% of businesses anticipate they will survive beyond summer 2021.

Therefore, the GSWTP had the following key asks for the UK Government

Allow October half term holidays to take place, do not instigate a ‘national circuit breaker’ at this time.
Extend the Job Support Scheme to also cover businesses that are not able to open due to Government Guidelines, not just those closed due to legal restrictions and also to those businesses whose customers are unable to travel due to local/ international lockdowns.
Support to be offered to businesses who have suffered direct cancellations as a result of last-minute lockdown restrictions
Review the Rule of Six in England to exclude children.
Review the 10pm closure for hospitality venues in Tier 1 areas.
Maintain the 5% VAT reduction rate and business rates relief to Sept 2021
The Government reviews the structure and funding of all DMO’s nationally for the long term and in conjunction with Tourism Sector Deal ambitions.

The GSWTP were pleased that the October half term holidays were able to take place and now awaits further correspondence with the government going forward.

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