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Welcome to the Somerset Tourism Partnership's website dedicated to providing you with business information. Watch Somerset Businesses Eight Somerset tourism businesses show how 'going green' has saved them money and helped save the planet...

Tourism in Somerset

Somerset's tourism industry plays a vital role in the county's economy.

Trade News: * To receive regular trade e-newsletters, please contact us .
Somerset Tourism Partnership: The Somerset Tourism Partnership (STP) is working to improve destination management and marketing in Somerset for the benefit of tourism businesses, residents and visitors.
Media Campaigns: A New Look for Somerset! The idea that Somerset is 'somewhere you pass through to get to Devon or Cornwall' is being challenged with a new 'Somerset brand'.
Strategy & Research: Some of the following are Adobe PDF Documents. If you do not have this software please click here to download Adobe Acrobat .
Tourism Telegram: Click the links below to view previous editions of the Somerset Tourism Telegram.
District Contacts: Mendip District Council Martin Lofthouse Tel: 01749 341 327 Email: lofthousem@mendip.gov.uk North Somerset Council Ursula James Tel: 01934 634 695 Email: ursula.james@n-somerset.gov.uk Sedgemoor District Council Cindy Tee Tel: 01278 787 852 Email: cindy.tee@sedgemoor.gov.

Marketing

Here you can find out how to promote your business with the Somerset Tourism Partnership, including: Advertising on the Visit Somerset website Advertising in the 2009 Somerset visitor brochure Are you Available? Find out how you can now easily ...

Visit Somerset: Advertising on the Site Promoting your business on www.visitsomerset.co.uk will gain you access to nearly 50,000 visitors a month, who use the site to plan their holidays and find information.
Somerset Brochure: Last few places left for 2009 brochure There has so far been a great response from businesses across Somerset to advertise in the 2009 Brochure.
Themed Experiences: Somerset's new themed experience sections aim: * to provide an additional opportunity to promote your business * to inspire potential visitors in new and exciting ways * to highlight how your business is unique/different * to package together a ...
Availability Extranet: Are you Available? Website visitors increasingly expect to be able to find out availability at their chosen accommodation quickly and easily, whilst still being able to contact the provider direct by phone or email to confirm availability and make ...
TIC Bookings: Somerset TIC's generated over £200,000 for accommodation providers in 2007. Many businesses receive bookings from Tourist Information Centres (TIC's) throughout the year.
Linking to Visit Somerset: Reciprocal Links One of the best ways by which websites can increase visitor traffic and improve their organic listings on google and other search engines is by establishing a number of reciprocal links with related businesses.

Visit Somerset Project

Helping you 'Win on the Web' The Visit Somerset project aims to maximise the potential of new technology for tourism related businesses; and Somerset as a visitor destination. This is primarily being achieved through: www.visitsomerset.co.

Project Aims: This project has the primary aim of assisting tourism related businesses in taking advantage of developments in ICT and in particular the internet.
Funding Partners: The following organisations jointly support and fund the Visit Somerset Project and this ...
Seminars: Winning on the Web On 1st April, tourism businesses will have another opportunity to attend one of the popular Visit Somerset Seminars. "...

Going Green

Many businesses are unaware of the links between environmental good practice and business profitability.

Why & How?: By reducing your environmental impacts through simple measures you could crucially: Improve your bottom line Use savings to provide addded value Attract new markets * Many visitors recognise the importance of positively interacting with the local environment and economy ...
2008 Conference: 'Going Green in Somerset' Somerset's first Sustainable Tourism Conference on 5th March 2008 proved to be a great success! Download Delegate Pack View Pictures from the day Speaking to some 60 delegates, was TV personality, writer and keen cyclist, ...
Case Studies: Watch Somerset businesses Watch 10 Somerset tourism businesses talking about implementing green actions. Green Tourism Business Scheme View case studies of tourism business from all round the country.
Develop Your Actions: Implementing green actions into your business isn't difficult. What is sometimes confusing is knowing where to start or where to go for further help.
Green Tourism Business Scheme: The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) is a marketing and advisory tool for tourism businesses supporting the local area and environment. Accommodation, attractions, restaurant/cafes, TICs and other types of tourism businesses can take part.
David Bellamy Conservation Award: "Wildlife wonderlands, and the chance of an amazing holiday experience : these are my paradise parks!" (David Bellamy) More than 600 Holiday Parks have gained the British Holiday & Home Parks Association David Bellamy Conservation award.

Awards & Gradings

For more information on the following awards and grading schemes please follow the left hand links.

Accommodation: Star Ratings (NQAS) VisitBritain, the Automobile Association (AA), and the Tourist Boards for Wales & Scotland operate assessments under Common Standards. This means that the standards for accommodation are applied identically by each of the above organisations.
Attractions: Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) VAQAS was launched nationally in 2001. It is a consumer focused quality assessment service for visitor attractions. It helps to identify strengths of an attraction and highlights development areas, based on industry examples.
Accessible Scheme: National Accessible Scheme (NAS) The National Accessible Scheme for self-catering, parks and serviced accommodation includes standards for hearing and visually impaired guests in addition to standards for guests with mobility impairment.
Green Tourism Business Scheme: Visit our Green Tourism Business Scheme page.
David Bellamy: Visit our David Bellamy page.
South West Tourism: Excellence Awards Every year South West Tourism run their Excellence Award Scheme. To find out more, apply, or recommend another business please visit www.swtourism.co.uk .
Food & Drink: Taste of the West Awards 2007 Bed and Breakfast Gold - Spears Cross,Dunster Gold - Three Acres Country House, Dulverton Silver - The Pilgrims at Lovington, Castle Cary Dining Pub Gold - The Montague Inn, Wincanton Silver - The ...

Training

New for Autumn 2008 Improving your business performance from under £25! Somerset Tourism Skills Network has just this week released details of a brand new round of short courses designed to help you improve your business performance...

Visit Somerset Seminars: Visit our Visit Somerset Seminars page.
Tourism Skills Network: TSN South West works with employers to: Identify training needs Deliver programmes in partnership Improve the skills and capacity of the workforce Promote tourism as a career of first choice The County of Somerset is covered by Somerset TSN ...

Diary Planner

Plan your year ahead, or provide visitors with vital information to help enhance their stay. Public Holidays Find out more about Bank holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the years 2007-2009 (source:DTI).

Public Holidays: Bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the years 2007-2009 ( source: DTI ) The expected dates of bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the years 2007-2009 inclusive are listed below.

Information Centres

Our Information Centres offer various services with dedicated staff who can help you promote your business by: Taking accommodation bookings Selling tickets to your attraction, event or theatre Window displays and poster sites to rent Offering advice on setting ...

Networked TIC's: Somerset Visitor Centre Sedgemoor Services , M5 South, Axbridge, BS26 2UF Tel: 01934 750833 Fax: 01934 750646 Email: somersetvisitorcentre@somerset.gov.uk (Closed Sat & Sun in the winter months) BRIDGWATER S.D.C.
Information Centres: BRUTON The Dove Cote Building, 26 High Street, Bruton, BA10 0AA Tel/Fax: 01749 812851 Email: bruton.office@ukonline.co.uk CASTLE CARY The Market House, Castle Cary, BA7 7AH Tel: 01963 351628 CLAYHIDON Blackdowns Welcome Centre, Heasel Farm, Clayhidon.
Exmoor NP Centres: EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL Tel: 01398 323665 Fax: 01398 323150 Email: info@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk DULVERTON 7-9 Fore Street, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9EX Tel: 01398 323841 Email: dulvertonvc@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk DUNSTER Email: dunstervc@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.

Key Factors Affecting Tourism

The latest data gathered for 2006 takes account of external factors that can effect the performance of the UK's tourist industry.

Accessibility Statement

We believe in access to information over the Internet for all. This Accessibility Statement provides an overview of the accessibility features we have implemented on this website.

Data Protection Policy

This page explains how Somerset County Council uses any information you give to us, and the ways in which we protect your privacy. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Sponsors

The following organisations jointly support and fund the Visit Somerset Project and this ...

Feedback

We always welcome feedback on the style, content and functionality of this website. Please send any comments or suggestions to:- Robert Downes Visit Somerset Project Development Officer Visit Somerset Project rmdownes@somerset.gov.