Providing

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Providing advice and support to
the Tourism Industry in Powys
"Support Available to Tourism Businesses in
Powys" at The Media Resource Centre, Llandrindod
Wells Friday 23rd September 2011
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About the project

• The overall aim of the project is
• To develop a tourism sector that is dynamic,
  sustainable and competitive, that supports the
  local economy to sustain the social, economic and
  environmental aspects of the community.
• Sustainable Tourism Powys aims to improve the
  sustainability of the tourism industry in Powys
  by raising the quality of facilities, improving
  marketing and accessing the latest technologies

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The aims of the project

• To support the development of sustainable
  tourism.
• To enhance the visitor experience.
• To develop and improve the tourism
  infrastructure.
• To improve the information and interpretation
  available for the visitor.
• Increase visitor satisfaction and encourage
  repeat visits.
• To provide support to businesses and enterprises
  operating with in the tourism sector to allow
  them to offer a quality product.
• To support and implement the use of ICT and
  digital marketing within the sector.
• To improve and develop activity based tourism.
• To support sense of place activities that promote
  the local distinctiveness of Powys.
• Improve visitors awareness of the local history,
  heritage and culture.

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4 grants available

• ICT
• Activity and Wildlife Tourism
• Sense of Place
• Green Tourism

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ICT

• To encourage and enable the tourism industry to
  drive forward economic growth utilising ICT to
  its best advantage
• What will the ICT grant fund?
• Advanced advice/implementation support/
  consultancy required to implement advanced ICT
• Advanced website development e.g. dynamic website
  creation, website with content management
  software and eCommerce development
• eMarketing activity/campaigns
• Non standard software
• Non standard hardware
• Bespoke software development
• What is on offer?
• Comprehensive ICT review of all aspects of the
  business ICT use by an trained impartial advisor
• Up to 70 funding up to a maximum grant of 2,500
• Free ICT Awareness Events

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Activity Wildlife Tourism

• Increase quality and diversity of activities
  available to visitors. Used as a vehicle for
  businesses to increase profitability in and out
  of season. Awareness raising of wildlife and its
  habitat
• What will the Activity and Wildlife Grant fund?
• Infrastructure Improvements
• Signage Interpretation
• Development of facilities that enable the access
  to the outdoors
• Access to wildlife areas e.g. access routes,
  footpath creation
• Improvement of tourism provision that will extend
  the season and / or improve the visitor
  experience.
• Development of new products that will improve the
  tourism provision of a destination.
• Whats on offer
• Up to 70 grant funding up to a maximum grant of
  10,000
• Free business events

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Sense of Place

• To raise awareness, encourage, identify and
  implement a sense of place to trade, community
  and visitor
• What will the Sense of Place Grant fund?
• Activities Supported under the grant scheme
  include
• Support for projects that promote local food,
  culture and heritage
• Support for projects that involve the Welsh
  language
• Support and development for new or existing
  events and festivals that add to the local
  distinctiveness of the area
• Trails
• Promotion and Publicity
• What is on offer
• Free business events
• Up to 70 grant funding up to a maximum grant of
  5,000

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Green Tourism

• Encourage tourism businesses to invest in energy
  saving measures that will in turn improve their
  long term sustainability
• What will the Green Grant fund?
• Waste reduction,
• Reduces costs through efficiencies
• Improves the public image
• Benefits the local community
• Improves the visitor experience
• Renewable energy generation
• Benefits the environment by conserving resources
• What is on offer
• Consultation events across Powys
• Up to 50 grant funding up to a maximum grant of
  5,000

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Eligibility

• All grants open to Micro Businesses working
  directly in the tourism
• sector
• Business must have between 1 and 10 full time
  employees (or equivalent)
• Turnover of less than 2 million
• Accredited
• Start ups
• Business must be based in Powys
• Sense of Place Grant Scheme
• Constituted groups or associations e.g. Town
  Councils, Tourism Associations etc

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A tourism business is defined as

• Accommodation Provider Must be registered with
  grading system e.g. Visit Wales
• Attractions Must hold all valid licenses (if
  applicable) VAQAS ideally
• Attractions Definition - A permanently
  established excursion destination, a primary
  purpose of which is to allow access for
  entertainment, interest, or education, rather
  than being primarily a retail outlet or a venue
  for sporting, theatrical, or film performance. It
  must be open to the public without prior booking,
  for published periods each year, and should be
  capable of attracting day visitors or tourists
  (VAQAS Definition)
• Other Must market directly to tourism visitor.
• Tourism Visitor definition A Tourism Visitor
  are regarded as those visiting whose stay is
  three hours or more for a non-routine purpose
  originating outside the local area, whether from
  home or from a non-resident accommodation outside
  the object area.
• Start-ups Must undertake accreditation within
  first year (achieve 3 Stars) and meet all other
  eligibility criteria e.g. 1 full time employee

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Application Process

• Business registers and completes Expression of
  Interest (EOI)
• EOI is scored and appropriate officers assigned
• Site Visit to discuss project in further detail
• Business invited to submit application
• Application is scored against a set criteria
• Application is sent to Strategic Management Board
  (SMB). The SMB meets bi monthly
• SMB Approve or Reject Application
• Grant Agreement Issued / Chance to Appeal if
  unsuccessful
• Revenue and Capital claims paid at 100 of
  project cost

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Upcoming Events

• 26th September 2011 Glansevern Hall, Welshpool
• 1.00pm till 3.00pm
• 6.30pm till 8.30pm
• 27th September 2011 Maesmawr Hall, Caersws 
• 1.00pm till 3.00pm
• 6.30pm till 8.30pm
• 28th September 2011 -
• Peterstone Court, Brecon 10am till 1.30pm
• Cric, Crickhowell 3.00pm till 6.30pm

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Sustainable Tourism Powys Contact
Details Neuadd Brycheiniog Cambrian
Way Brecon Powys LD3 7HR Tel [phone]
Email tourism.trade_at_powys.gov.uk