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Leisure & Tourism

tourism image The Tourism sector has been defined to include all providers of visitor accommodation, as well as supporting services such as attractions, entertainment activities, and catering services where these serve a predominantly Tourist market.

The leisure and tourism sector contributes £1,648 billion to regional Gross Value Added (GVA). This equates to 2.8% of total regional GVA which is below the average for Great Britain. In GVA terms the sector is of most importance in Torbay and Bournemouth. Part-time employment is far high in this sector than in any other key sector. The proportion of workers qualified to at least Level 3 is well below the regional average (State of the Key Sectors, SWRDA, 2004).

Tourism Resources

for publications related to tourism.

Tourism Links

People 1st
The Sector Skills Council for the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industries.

South West Tourism
South West Tourism is a partnership of private enterprise and both local and central government working to encourage the promotion and development of tourism in Bath, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Culture South West
This is one of eight regional Consortiums, plus the London Cultural Strategy Group, that have been established by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Culture South West’s role is to help improve the quality of life for all the region through cultural, recreational, leisure and sporting activities and strengthen the creative industries.

Department for Culture Media & Sport - Tourism & Leisure
The Department of Culture, Media and Sports pages on the tourism and leisure sector.

English Tourism Council
Website for the English Tourism Council.

Statistics on Tourism and Research (STARUK)
The official website of the UK Research Liaison Group. The group is made up of representatives of the national tourist boards for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Britain and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Tourism Industry Professionals Site (TIPS)
A website from the British Tourist Authority providing marketing advice for professionals in the sector.

Towards 2015 - Shaping tomorrow's tourism
South West Tourism and South West RDA are currently developing the Regional Action Plan, which will detail the next stage of implementation of Towards 2015.

Tourism Networks

South West Tourism Ltd
Network web link
South West Tourism is a partnership of private enterprise and both local and central government. It works to encourage the promotion and development of tourism in Bath, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
Tourism Skills Network SW
Network web link
The Tourism Skills Network was established in September 2001, to increase the competitiveness of the tourism industry in the South West of England.

Project Co-ordinators have been recruited for each of the counties in the South West to work in partnership with local employers, education and training providers, Learning and Skills Councils and Business Links to address the skills issues in the tourism industry in the South West.

Website contains pages for each county tourism skills network.

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Sector Specific Resources