Conserative-controlled West Somerset Council worked closely with partners, including Exmoor National Park Authority and Exmoor Tourism Association, to organise the event at the newly refurbished Beach Hotel in Minehead.
Around 130 delegates from the tourism industry – vital to the West Somerset economy – gathered to hear from a wide range of speakers and to take part in a wide range of workshops.
The day was voted a huge success with delegates appreciating the chance to network, share ideas and learn from others.
Among the highlights of the day was a presentation by Alexandre Lefevre, from the Somme region of northern France, who provided a fresh insight on rural tourism. His region is a partner in the COOL tourism initiative which links areas of France and England to promote the rural environment. The conference saw the main launch of a new rural tourism toolkit developed by Hidden Britain as part of the COOL project.
Delegates gave the new Visit Exmoor website – still under construction – a warm welcome and look forward to the launch. It provides clearer navigation and enables tourism businesses to promote their offerings widely.
The four workshops were fully subscribed, offering an insight into:
· Hinkley Action Tourism Partnership
· Using the COOL rural tourism toolkit
· Marketing Exmoor Experiences
· Customer Service
Cllr Karen Mills, West Somerset Council’s lead member for tourism, said: “Quite simply the conference was a fantastic success, attracting so many delegates. It was over-subscribed which only goes to show the appetite for a well-run and fully focused event such as this.
“I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to organise it and the Beach Hotel for hosting the conference. We are now analysing the feedback and looking forward to planning for the forthcoming tourism season.
“This area has so much to offer – and not just in the high summer season. Our aim is to make people aware of how special our area is and to ensure they make the most of their visit.”