British Tourism

Challenging Outdated Perceptions

Posted on April 20, 2015
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The new Freedom To Go campaign aims to introduce a younger generation of holidaymakers to caravan and motorhome holidays.

Challenging Outdated Perceptions

The UK’s largest clubs for camping and caravanning – the National Caravan Council (NCC) and The Camping and Caravanning Club have joined forces to promote the benefits of caravans and motorhomes to a new generation of holidaymakers.

Designed to attract younger audiences to this much-loved style of holiday, the ‘Freedom to go’ campaign will draw on the appeal of the great outdoors and the freedom to explore that owning a leisure vehicle presents and will include a dedicated website plus nationwide advertising.

“A key objective of the campaign is to decrease the average age of leisure vehicle ownership by five years and get new entrants into the market,” commented Jennifer Summers, NCC group marketing director.

“In order to do that, we aim to turn the perception of camping and caravanning on its head and illustrate the appeal of this type of holiday to modern families and adventurous travellers alike. There hasn’t been a better time to convert more British consumers to this type of holiday and grow the market for all types of leisure vehicle ownership.”

The campaign will showcase beautiful British destinations and unique adventures that touring holidays make possible whilst recommending which type of leisure vehicle will suit individual needs and tastes.

Nick Lomas, director general of The Caravan Club added: “This is an important step the industry is taking. The Caravan Club is delighted to help champion this initiative.”

Record Funding For Coastal Attractions

Posted on April 17, 2015
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Suffolk Coastal district council is one of the areas set to benefit from £36 million of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund. Pic: VisitBritain / Rod Edward.

Record Funding For Coastal Attractions

Seaside towns across England and Scotland are set to benefit from a cash injection of over £45m to boost growth in coastal areas.

A total of 27 coastal towns and villages across Scotland will benefit from £9.58m of UK government funding through the Coastal Communities Fund and a further £36m has been allocated to seaside towns in England. The money will support projects that will create nearly 3,000 jobs and almost 1,500 apprenticeships and training places.

Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury, said: “I created the Coastal Communities Fund because, as someone who grew up on a small island, I know how much difference targeted investment can make to people’s lives. It’s already supported scores of coastal communities from the Highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England.

“Overall, hundreds of communities across the UK will benefit, creating jobs and making sure that some of our most remote and fragile communities share in the economic recovery.”

Among those to benefit will be Blackpool’s world famous illuminations which will receive nearly £2m to help create new light shows that will become a major tourist attraction and create and support nearly 550 new jobs. Tate St Ives will get £3.8m to help extend the art gallery so it can welcome 76,000 new visitors a year and Scarborough’s historic market will get £2.7m to refurbish the market and create space for 30 new businesses creating more than 80 jobs and apprenticeships.