Coastal Tourism Industry Supported in Select Inquiry Report

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Coastal Tourism Industry Supported in Select Inquiry Report

The work of the fledgling National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) has received solid backing in the Government’s new Select Committee report into Tourism, published today, [Thursday 26 March] which outlines the key barriers to growth in coastal tourism as identified by the NCTA.

Although only in existence for just over 18 months, the NCTA has shone the spotlight on seaside tourism and the need for coastal regeneration to create jobs and growth in a vital sector of the domestic tourism industry.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport’s Tourism report quotes the NCTA’s value of the market, £4.3 billion for domestic overnight trips and £3.8 billion for tourism day trips in England in 2012.

“We recognise we’re at the very outset and have barely scratched the surface on the research that needs to be done, so it’s enormously encouraging to be recommended in this influential report on tourism,” says Samantha Richardson, NCTA director.

“We’ve quickly identified a number of common factors that must be addressed if coastal tourism is to reclaim its position as a thriving part of domestic tourism. Some resorts are flourishing while others are languishing, we’ve focussed on areas of best practice giving us examples that can be shared for everyone’s benefit.”

The NCTA recently launched a Resource Hub on its website providing businesses and destination managers access to its research and case studies, www.coastaltourismacademy.co.uk

The Select Committee’s report recommends that the NCTA should be able to continue its work “to become a truly national resource for the benefit of seaside resorts throughout England and the rest of the UK.”

The report also cites two of the key barriers to coastal growth, identified by the NCTA: first, a high proportion of SMEs and low corporate brand representation leading to significant obstacles in creating change and growth.

Second, cuts in public sector funding has led to a serious reduction for coastal tourism provision. At the same time, the high volume of SMEs makes private sector funding problematic. The combined effect is a reduction of services, market research and business support.

Reversing coastal decline is at the heart of the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund which funds the National Coastal Tourism Academy.

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For more media information, please contact Sheron Crossman, NCTA Marketing and Communications Manager, Sheron.crossman@coastaltourismacademy.co.uk or tel: 01202 962565.