Digital guidebooks to benefit tourism businesses
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Partnership promotes off the beaten track destinations in Wales, Brittany, Spain, Ireland and Portugal
Cantata, a unique partnership of five tourism bodies, in the Atlantic Area of Europe is supporting local businesses to connect tourists to ‘non-traditional’ destinations, as part of a 2.2 million Euro tourism development project.
Each of the ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destinations – which include Denbighshire in North Wales, Shannon in Ireland, Poher in Brittany, Galicia in Northern Spain and Montemor-o-Velho in Portugal – experience the same challenge in attracting visitors, as tourists flock to neighbouring holiday ‘hotspots’.
The regions have partnered to share best practice and to strengthen links between public bodies responsible for tourism and the private sector, such as local hotels and attractions. Through this, local businesses have been equipped with the expertise and confidence to promote the authenticity of their local area.
The partnership has promoted alternative tourism by developing unique products for local businesses, such as gastronomy trail packages in Galicia and digital guidebooks in Denbighshire.
Peter McDermott from Denbighshire County Council who leads the Cantata project, said: “The Cantata project demonstrates how collaboration and sharing best practice across Europe can support tourism offerings in destinations that are often overlooked by holidaymakers. In an economic climate that has seen the European travel and tourism industry suffer, this project is particularly apt.”
The Atlantic Area of Europe describes the entire territory of Ireland and the Atlantic regions of Spain, France, Portugal and the UK, which are connected by their maritime heritage.
The Cantata project began in 2005, and is in its second phase, which will be complete in March 2012. An estimated 675 businesses will have benefited from the project.
Peter McDermott told Vision on Sustainable Tourism “Our activities are free, we don't provide grants. Our main areas are workshops, seminars and one final conference which will showcase the activities of the project. Other products include websites, applications, brochures, leaflets. Most of the businesses we are in contact with are tourism-related (Hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, restaurants, cafes, shops, attractions)”
“We are creating an on-line tool kit which will be forwarded to local authorities and other relevant agencies which will feature detailed case studies (featuring documentation, video and audio) that interested parties can use to assist their own product development”
“We all wish to equip local businesses with the tools and knowledge to ensure that their customers discover the depth of attractions in each of the areas covered by the project in a sustainable manner.”
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