VisitBritain, the UK’s tourism board, has created a new Enterprise Unit to help small businesses in the sector benefit from the organisation’s work.
The new unit will help link firms relying on the tourism industry to VisitBritain’s marketing activities, help and advice.
New ‘clubs’ will be set up to provide a focal point for tourism businesses to network and share ideas, best practice and product development news.
VisitBritain said the unit will offer a “clear and focused menu of tailored products and services” that businesses can customise to their own needs.
The creation of the unit will be welcome news to many firms that rely on tourism, such as hotels and gift shops, following a difficult period since the World Trade Centre terrorist atrocities in 2001.
The September 11 attacks saw tourist numbers, especially from America, dip sharply. The foot and mouth outbreak, the global economic downturn and increased fears over terrorism have also kept overseas visitors at home.
This year has seen a mini-revival for small tourism firms, although the war in Iraq has done further damage to the industry, causing many businesses to close.
Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, said that the tourist body had done much for small firms.
“However, many organisations expect us to develop a greater understanding of their own strategies and objectives, to more closely match our products and services to their objectives, and to tailor our communication more succinctly.
“The new Enterprise Unit will thus extend VisitBritain’s longer-term planning and improve how we relate to our partners and deliver the products and services to benefit their business,” he said.
