Bath

In terms of overall destination management, there are two major contributors within Bath - Bath Tourism Plus and Bath & North East Somerset Council. Some elements of tourism activity are delivered excellently already, but there are other activities, where we are looking to assist and influence partners to take on.

Bath Tourism Plus is the official destination marketing organisation for Bath and the surrounding area. The company took over the management of tourism promotion from Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2003. It takes responsibility for: co-ordinating the work of a Tourist Information Centre; the marketing of Bath to leisure and business travellers; a rolling programme of research; PR activity and overseas media; a conference and venues booking service; and the development of Bath's official tourism website www.visitbath.co.uk.

Bath Tourism Plus is also involved in the planning, marketing and management of major events including the Bath Christmas Market and Taste of Bath.

In 2004 Bath Tourism Plus introduced a membership scheme for tourism businesses. The scheme has over 400 members and provides access to a wide range of commercially-focussed benefits and services, with optional joint membership into our membership scheme.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is in charge of maintaining the city as a World Heritage City and management of the public realm (public toilets, signage, maps, streetscape, parks etc.) and some visitor information services.

Our work in partnership with Bath has included industry workshops and management plans, with assistance in the development of the West of England Economic Partnership's Tourism Plan. The plan will act as the strategic framework for the destinations of Bristol and Bath. Bath have recently used this as a backdrop for thier new Destination Management Plan. A press release about the new developments in Bath can be downloaded.

To this end we are currently working with Bath to complete a new Destination Management Plan for the city, which will work in conjunction with the new Bath vision and, potentially, a new visitor brand.