Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Minutes of Evidence


Memorandum submitted by the Tamar Valley Tourism Association (TAVATA)

  TAVATA is one of the many associations with relatively small membership (140) which are run totally voluntary with no paid administration. It was formed five years ago to fill a gap in the mosaic of Devon and Cornwall.

    —    the Tamar Valley from Plymouth and Rame Head stretches 80 miles due north to Bude. The County boundary splits the area down the River Tamar;

    —    it is a deep valley of great beauty partly covered by an AONB and with considerable mining heritage. It is therefore a tourist entity in its own right; and

    —    other Associations such as SECTA (South East Cornwall) centers on Looe. BoB (Best of Bodmin) centers round Bodmin Moor, DTA (Datrmoor) do not cover the Tamar Valley and could not represent the area.

  TAVATA looks inward to the support visitors to the area and tourism associated businesses. It provides, for a membership fee of £45, an entry in:

    —    six leaflets. 10,000 of each are printed yearly for distribution locally; and

    —    accommodation lists to go out to Tourist Information Centres.

  The Secretary in addition to normal Association administration keeps the membership informed by email of:

    —    events arranged by the NT, Towns, Gardens, Devon & Cornwall Railways etc;

    —    police notices, scams; and

    —    training courses.

  The Committee are of course all volunteers.

    —    one member is a IT consultant and has designed and developed the web;

    —    one produces an e-newsletter; and

    —    one is a member of the AONB etc.

PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

  TAVATA works closely with the AONB, Local District Councils, Town Councils, QHM on river related problems, other Tourist Associations. It is now working closely with CoaST (Cornwall Sustainable Tourism) to implement an Association wide green agenda.

  Though we represent 140 tourist related business we have never been approached by any of the government sponsored tourist organisations and certainly have never been offered any help. We have little idea who is in charge as there is a plethora of organisations especially in Cornwall, none of whom are taking a leadership role.

FUNDING

  Money for tourism does not cascade down beyond the public bodies. There is no sharing of resources for local initiatives such as our leaflets or development of web sites. We have to find grants from organisations which are not primarily tourist support organisations.

QUALITY AGENDA

  Quality is vital for the success of any tourist industry and vital for our 80 Accommodation providers of which 34 are NQAS. If TAVATA insisted on inspection we would probable lose a high proportion of the 46 unregistered. Why:

    —    cost. VisitBritain charge a joining at a cost of £60 or £70 a year plus yearly inspection fees of £140. £200 is one weeks rent for a small self-catering cottage out of season;

    —    inflexibility of organisation; and

    —    does not bring in the bookings.

  VisitBritain is trying to bring in the scheme by the back door by insisting that accommodation providers cannot use the TICs or be members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme unless they have been inspected. On what authority do they do this since we all pay taxes and rates?

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

  It would appear from an outsider that the tourism budget is spent on administration for the plethora of organisations and for the provision of training courses. The sheer number of courses offered for free and the poor take up on the whole surely indicates that that sector is saturated. Some of the money would be better spent on the promotion of the SW to increase numbers of visitors and to extend the season either end.

GREEN AGENDA

  All Tourist Associations wish to improve their green credentials because it is a good marketing tool and a good financial tool for many businesses. TAVATA:

    —    prints all leaflets on recycled paper;

    —    is encouraging all members to join CoaST at £32 a year; and

    —    is planning to join SECTA's Green Acorn Scheme at £30 a year with inspection every two years.

  VisitCornwall is encouraging businesses to join the Green Business Scheme at a cost of £120 for inspection every year but only if you are inspected at a cost of £140 having joined VisitBritain for £70.

March 2008





 
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