This Resource Hub is designed to help create growth for coastal tourism businesses and seaside destinations, a one-stop shop for anyone working in the coastal visitor economy.
You’ll find visitor profiles, opportunities for new markets, visitor experience initiatives and links to government working practices.
This is for you, whether you operate an ice-cream parlour, caravan park, restaurant, pub, visitor attraction or boutique hotel.
Here you'll find a round-up of many of our NCTA projects to date. We've worked with tourism businesses to help develop routes to growth. Take a look at our results.
What makes a business truly exceptional, making customers return time after time, while others manage simply to scrape by? Our Best Practice draws on the expertise from some of the best in the business. We've picked their brains, here we share their top tips.
Take a look at this series of case studies to help your business grow, alongside the key drivers a destination needs to attract visitors to your resort.
How well do you really know your visitors? What do they expect when they visit your business? Check out the visitor profiles and the results of our research into coastal tourism.
Practical tools for small businesses and coastal destinations to help identify areas ripe for development. Within our courses, you'll find the NCTA's flagship Bournemouth Ambassador online resort knowledge module plus customer service training programmes.
From responding to extreme weather warnings to understanding new legislation - if you're a business owner, you're expected to know it all! Here you'll be signposted to the latest external resources.
 Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2025
						
															market intelligence													
																		Featured
						Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2025
						
															market intelligence													
																		Featured																	
									
						 2024 Campaign: A Coast for All…  
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																			
													
												Featured
						2024 Campaign: A Coast for All…  
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																			
													
												Featured																	
									
						 Tap into new business from England Coast Path walkers
						
															market intelligence													
																		Featured
						Tap into new business from England Coast Path walkers
						
															market intelligence													
																		Featured																	
									
						 Communities on the edge report
						
															additional resource													
																		Featured
						Communities on the edge report
						
															additional resource													
																		Featured																	
									
						 Top 10 tips for business sustainability
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
												Featured
						Top 10 tips for business sustainability
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
												Featured																	
									
						 Experience Maker Toolkit for Businesses
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																		Featured
						Experience Maker Toolkit for Businesses
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																		Featured																	
									
						 Coastal Visitor Economy - Vision, Strategy and Action Plan
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
												Featured
						Coastal Visitor Economy - Vision, Strategy and Action Plan
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
												Featured																	
									
						 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Visitor Toolkits
						
															market intelligence
						Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Visitor Toolkits
						
															market intelligence													
																																			
									
						 Coastal Tourism Overview - May 2024
						
															market intelligence
						Coastal Tourism Overview - May 2024
						
															market intelligence													
																																			
									
						 Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2024 results
						
															visitor experience
						Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2024 results
						
															visitor experience													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 England’s Coast Consumer Survey 2024
						
															market intelligence
						England’s Coast Consumer Survey 2024
						
															market intelligence													
																																			
									
						 Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2023 Results
						
															market intelligence
						Coastal Tourism Business Survey 2023 Results
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice Guide: Cove Communities UK
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: Cove Communities UK
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice Guide: North Devon UNESCO Biosphere
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: North Devon UNESCO Biosphere
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice Guide: SO Festival
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: SO Festival
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice Guide: Holivans
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: Holivans
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice Guide: Hall and Woodhouse
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: Hall and Woodhouse
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice Guide: Magna Vitae Trust
						
															best practice
						Best Practice Guide: Magna Vitae Trust
						
															best practice													
																																			
									
						 England’s Coast Consumer Survey Results 2022
						
															market intelligence
						England’s Coast Consumer Survey Results 2022
						
															market intelligence													
																																			
									
						 Independent Commission on Culture and Local Government 
						
															market intelligence
						Independent Commission on Culture and Local Government 
						
															market intelligence													
																																			
									
						 Year of the Coast 2023
						
															additional resource
						Year of the Coast 2023
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 2022 Coastal Tourism Business Survey Results
						
															market intelligence
						2022 Coastal Tourism Business Survey Results
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 2021 Staycation Travel Survey
						
															market intelligence
						2021 Staycation Travel Survey
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Our feedback on the independent DMO review
						
															market intelligence
						Our feedback on the independent DMO review
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Experiential Tourism Workshops
						
															Toolkits & Courses
						Experiential Tourism Workshops
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																																			
									
						 Impact of Covid-19 on Tourism Businesses - 2021 Business Barometer
						
															market intelligence
						Impact of Covid-19 on Tourism Businesses - 2021 Business Barometer
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Coastal Tourism Recovery Funding letter to Secretary of State
						
															visitor experience
						Coastal Tourism Recovery Funding letter to Secretary of State
						
															visitor experience													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Impact of Covid-19 on Coastal Tourism
						
															additional resource
						Impact of Covid-19 on Coastal Tourism
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Letter to the Prime Minister - Appoint a Coastal Communities Minister please!
						
															additional resource
						Letter to the Prime Minister - Appoint a Coastal Communities Minister please!
						
															additional resource													
																																			
									
						 APPG for Hospitality and Tourism
						
															additional resource
						APPG for Hospitality and Tourism
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Coastal Tourism Recovery Funding letter to the Chancellor
						
															additional resource
						Coastal Tourism Recovery Funding letter to the Chancellor
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
																													
									
						 DCMS Select Inquiry into the Impact of Covid-19 on Coastal Tourism
						
															additional resource
						DCMS Select Inquiry into the Impact of Covid-19 on Coastal Tourism
						
															additional resource													
																																			
									
						 Best Practice: Bamburgh Castle
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Bamburgh Castle
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Guardhouse Café
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Guardhouse Café
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Searles Leisure Group
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Searles Leisure Group
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: British Airways i360, Brighton
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: British Airways i360, Brighton
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Kingsbridge Visitor Information Centre
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Kingsbridge Visitor Information Centre
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 England’s Coast - Sample Regional Itineraries!
						
															business development
						England’s Coast - Sample Regional Itineraries!
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Coastal Tourism Workshop 2018 Summary
						
															market intelligence
						Coastal Tourism Workshop 2018 Summary
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 VisitEngland Business Hub
						
															additional resource
						VisitEngland Business Hub
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 BDRC 2020 Holiday Trends
						
															market intelligence
						BDRC 2020 Holiday Trends
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 International profiles: German, French and Dutch visitors
						
															market intelligence
						International profiles: German, French and Dutch visitors
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Folkestone Creative Quarter
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Folkestone Creative Quarter
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 International Visitors: German Profile
						
															market intelligence
						International Visitors: German Profile
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 International Visitors: French Profile
						
															market intelligence
						International Visitors: French Profile
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Calvert Trust
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Calvert Trust
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: BeWILDerwood of Norfolk
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: BeWILDerwood of Norfolk
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Perceptions of the English Coast: Opportunities for Domestic Non-Visitors
						
															market intelligence
						Perceptions of the English Coast: Opportunities for Domestic Non-Visitors
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Visit Isle of Wight
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Visit Isle of Wight
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: The Green House Hotel
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: The Green House Hotel
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Grove Cottages
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Grove Cottages
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Dorset House B&B
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Dorset House B&B
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Rockfish Restaurants
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Rockfish Restaurants
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Activity Holidays: Are they the key to growth on the English Coast?
						
															market intelligence
						Activity Holidays: Are they the key to growth on the English Coast?
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Beside the Seaside – connecting the past with the future presentation
						
															business development
						Beside the Seaside – connecting the past with the future presentation
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 VisitEngland’s Business development case studies
						
															additional resource
						VisitEngland’s Business development case studies
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Attracting international visitors - Peewit Caravan Park
						
															best practice
						Attracting international visitors - Peewit Caravan Park
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Attracting international visitors - The Holkham Hall & Estate
						
															best practice
						Attracting international visitors - The Holkham Hall & Estate
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Attracting international visitors - Visit Essex
						
															best practice
						 Attracting international visitors - Visit Essex
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 How to attract more: Families
						
															best practice
						How to attract more: Families
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 International Visitors: Dutch Profile
						
															market intelligence
						International Visitors: Dutch Profile
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 How to attract more: Business travellers
						
															best practice
						How to attract more: Business travellers
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 How to attract more: Customers travelling with dogs
						
															best practice
						How to attract more: Customers travelling with dogs
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 The Tourism Industry Council’s Brexit Response Paper
						
															additional resource
						The Tourism Industry Council’s Brexit Response Paper
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Sensory Toolkits: Engage your customer in the 5 senses
						
															business development
						Sensory Toolkits: Engage your customer in the 5 senses
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Case Study: Tourism Innovation Programme
						
															business development
						Case Study: Tourism Innovation Programme
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Addressing Employee Pay and Progression on the Coast
						
															business development
						Addressing Employee Pay and Progression on the Coast
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Shore Potential: Addressing the Coastal Tourism Challenge
						
															additional resource
						Shore Potential: Addressing the Coastal Tourism Challenge
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 International Visitors and the English Coast
						
															market intelligence
						International Visitors and the English Coast
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Guidelines for making the most of your people
						
															Toolkits & Courses
						Guidelines for making the most of your people
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																																			
									
						 Off Peak Coastal Tourism: Potential for growth in the Empty Nesters Market
						
															market intelligence
						Off Peak Coastal Tourism: Potential for growth in the Empty Nesters Market
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Coastal Tourism Monitor
						
															market intelligence
						Coastal Tourism Monitor
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Understanding Seasonality in Coastal Destinations
						
															market intelligence
						Understanding Seasonality in Coastal Destinations
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 How to attract more: Walking visitors
						
															best practice
						How to attract more: Walking visitors
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Business Support Toolkit
						
															Toolkits & Courses
						Business Support Toolkit
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																																			
									
						 #NCTA Masterclass - The Golden Rules of Customer Service with Des Burke
						
															Toolkits & Courses
						#NCTA Masterclass - The Golden Rules of Customer Service with Des Burke
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 2016 Coastal Tourism
						
															market intelligence
						2016 Coastal Tourism
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Destination FeelGood: Building a healthier tourism sector
						
															market intelligence
						Destination FeelGood: Building a healthier tourism sector
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Latest research: Holiday Trends in 2016
						
															additional resource
						Latest research: Holiday Trends in 2016
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 #NCTAmasterclass - Top tips on customer service with Andy Edwards
						
															Toolkits & Courses
						#NCTAmasterclass - Top tips on customer service with Andy Edwards
						
															Toolkits & Courses
													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Coastal England: Are Young People a ‘lost generation’?
						
															market intelligence
						Coastal England: Are Young People a ‘lost generation’?
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Understanding employment issues in coastal SMEs
						
															business development
						Understanding employment issues in coastal SMEs
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Customer Journey: Brand new research
						
															business development
						Customer Journey: Brand new research
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Visitor Profile: Cycling at the seaside 
						
															market intelligence
						Visitor Profile: Cycling at the seaside 
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Visitor Profile: Watersports at the seaside 
						
															market intelligence
						Visitor Profile: Watersports at the seaside 
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Visitor Profile: Walking at the seaside
						
															market intelligence
						Visitor Profile: Walking at the seaside
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Visitor Profile: Group Travel and Coach Parties
						
															market intelligence
						Visitor Profile: Group Travel and Coach Parties
						
															market intelligence													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Dementia: Why is it important for tourism?
						
															business development
						Dementia: Why is it important for tourism?
						
															business development													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: The Scarlet Hotel
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: The Scarlet Hotel
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Sandcastle Waterpark
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Sandcastle Waterpark
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Munch Coffee, Bar and Kitchen
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Munch Coffee, Bar and Kitchen
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Field House Farms Self-Catering
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Field House Farms Self-Catering
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: The Deep, Hull 
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: The Deep, Hull 
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Geevor Tin Mine
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Geevor Tin Mine
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: St Cuthbert’s House 
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: St Cuthbert’s House 
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
																													
									
						 Best Practice: Dairy Barns B&B
						
															best practice
						Best Practice: Dairy Barns B&B
						
															best practice													
																			
													
													
													
																													
									
						 British High Streets: from Crisis to Recovery
						
															additional resource
						British High Streets: from Crisis to Recovery
						
															additional resource													
																			
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
													
																													
									
						 Social media: vital for marketing?
						
															business development
						Social media: vital for marketing?
						
															business development