Borough Wants Your Views For New Tourism Strategy

Published on: 22 Apr, 2014
Updated on: 22 Apr, 2014

Tourism in being put into focus by Guildford Borough Council with a new strategy aimed at making sure it continues to grow and is effective.

Now, the council wants to hear from people with specific views and ideas.

The Castle Grounds – a popular place for visitors to Guildford, and locals alike.

The council says: “Tourism is a vital part of our local economy and members of our business and tourism team met recently with key local businesses and organisations to review and develop the strategy and to gain valuable input and feedback.”

It reports that in n 2012, there were more than 4.4 million day trips to Guildford – and tourism supports more than 5,000 jobs in the borough, or 6.3% of employment.

Cllr Gordon Jackson, lead councillor for economic development, adds: “The tourism industry has changed over recent years, particularly with the development of new technology. Our new strategy and associated action plan aims to help our partners to share resources and work together in a more effective way.

“Our meeting with key representatives from the industry, including Watts Gallery, G Live, Radisson Hotel, RHS Wisley, Guildford Shakespeare Company, Guildford Book Festival, Guildford Cathedral and Loseley Park, will help us to develop this important new area of work.

“We have started work on the strategy and are keen to listen to anyone from the sector that is willing to contribute information, statistics and evidence to it, so please get in touch.”

The Surrey County Show in Stoke Park always draws a large amount of visitors.

The council says that one of the follow up actions will be to use this evidence to secure government funding in the future and to make sure this important sector receives the support and investment it needs.

The review will take place over the summer and the council will present the draft document in the autumn.

If you would like to be involved and have your say, contact Chris Burchell, the council’s local economy manager on chris.burchell@guildford.gov.uk or phone 01483 444329.

What are your views? Tell the Guildford Dragon your views on local tourism, what could be done or bettered. Please leave a reply in the box below.

Responses to Borough Wants Your Views For New Tourism Strategy

Ngaire Wadman Reply

May 13, 2014 at 10:56 pm

You don’t mention the National Trust local properties in the article – what about Clandon Park, which was a major primary military hospital during WWI and now has an excellent exhibition in the restored Operating Theatre? What about Hatchlands, with its astonishing collection of ancient keyboard instruments? What about Dapdune Wharf, which sets out so well the immense prosperity and commercial development that came to Guildford with the building of the Wey Navigation? These places have an integral role in the history and development of Guildford and surrounding area.