Future for tourism in Bath

Great session this morning at Buro Happold to talk about sustainable tourism, hosted by Claire Smith and Robert Moyser. Heard from Robert Campbell, who explained the Roman Bath's contributed an incredible £12m last year to the Bath and North East Somerset Council's coffers, so helping provide support for those in need.

I took the chance to repeat the mantra I promoted when I Chaired Bath Tourism Plus, to propose a tourism policy which would go some way to placating residents, by actually reducing the total number of visitors, but encouraging them to stay longer and spend more. Better Park and Ride provision, including to the east of the City, would help reduce traffic in the centre and a fleet of electric mini buses could ferry in coach passengers and also allow visitors to access the delights of North East Somerset, including the Chew Valley, so extending the length of their visit when they had satisfied their appetite for history and retail therapy in Bath itself.