NCTA promotes tourism to Bournemouth residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

How well do you know Bournemouth?

Which is the oldest building in Bournemouth? How many acres of green open space does the town have? What is the value of tourism to the local economy?

Think you know Bournemouth? Come along to the Executive Business Centre, Holdenhurst Road, on Thursday 12 June from 6pm for an evening with the National Coastal Tourism Academy. Enjoy light refreshments and test your knowledge of the town in a quiz, discover what a Bournemouth Ambassador is and maybe become a Customer Care Champion – local lookouts who scour the town for examples of great customer service.

The event is part of Bournemouth University’s week-long Festival of Learning which runs from 9 to 15 June. The evening will give residents a chance to voice their views of tourism, discover its value to the town and find out how they can help safeguard jobs and protect Bournemouth’s natural assets and visitor attractions.

The evening will also provide an opportunity to see The Big Invite, a short film featuring Bournemouth residents, encouraging them to invite friends and family to the town.

“This will be a great opportunity to hear residents’ views on tourism in the town,” says Samantha Richardson, director of the NCTA. “We’re working closely with businesses and with Bournemouth University in research projects, but residents are pivotal in a visitor’s experience. If we offer a warm welcome, there’s every chance that visitor will return.

“We know that 56 per cent of visitors would recommend Bournemouth to friends and relatives, if we can also encourage those who live here to recommend it, it would boost the economy massively. If even half of the town’s 186,000 population invited someone to visit, it would have a significant impact and help create much needed new jobs.”

The event is part of Bournemouth University’s Festival of Learning, a series of events held at locations across the resort, promoting the University’s work to residents. For more information visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/fol

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

Notes to editors: The National Coastal Tourism Academy is a partnership between Bournemouth Borough Council, Bournemouth University and the local tourism industry. It is funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government, with additional investment from Bournemouth Borough Council and Bournemouth University, initially for two years. The key purpose of the project is to create jobs in the tourism sector through growth in the local economy.