Following the launch of an exciting new multi-million pound initiative to boost tourism all year round, Dover District Council is encouraging local businesses in the tourism and visitor economy sector to get involved and develop new ideas for the future.
Visit Kent has announced the launch of a brand-new Experience Development Programme. Funded through the European Interreg Experience Project, with match funding from local authority partners, the programme will support the development of new ‘experiential tourism’ products in our beautiful county of Kent.
The €23 million project aims to extend the tourism season through the development of off-season bookable experiences. Visit Kent has a budget of €1.6m, and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has a budget of €3.1m, and 125 businesses across Kent are set to directly benefit.
Dover District Council is one of the partner authorities contributing and working with Visit Kent and the Kent Downs AONB to deliver this exciting four year project locally.
Tapping into the new emerging trend of experiential tourism, Visit Kent is looking to work with a range of organisations, including visitor attractions and hospitality and leisure providers across Kent, to support and develop new tourism-based products. The aim of the programme is to reach new audiences and develop an all year round product to help business recovery and resilience against future challenges.
If you have a great idea for a new visitor experience, an idea for collaborating with another business or an existing offer which could be adapted for a new audience, this exciting programme could help.
Following application and selection, successful businesses will be provided with a package of support, including one-to-one consultation, product testing, content development, consumer marketing and distribution.
Cllr MJ Holloway, DDC Cabinet Member for Tourism, said: “We’ve been working hard to support the local tourism, hospitality and leisure industry through the lockdown, and we are delighted to be involved in this exciting opportunity to help boost the visitor economy all year round. This project will directly help to enhance the great experiences on offer in White Cliffs Country and across Kent. We are very pleased to be able to work with our partners on this project, and look forward to delivering a dynamic programme that will support economic growth across the district.”
For more information on Interreg EXPERIENCE and how to get involved, please see the Visit Kent website or see the Press Release or the guidance document. To apply to join the programme, please contact Visit Kent on enquiries@visitkent.co.uk. All applications will be acknowledged, and successful applicants will be notified before September 2020.
Notes to editors: Interreg is one of the key instruments of the European Union (EU) supporting cooperation across borders through project funding. Its aim is to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more.
Posted on 15 July 2020