Devon and Somerset lead the way in 'tourism data' to help improve experiences
The data will look at where visitors are coming from, what they are doing and how much they are spending
Last updated 16th Oct 2023
A first of its kind scheme is planned for Devon and Somerset to look at visitor trends.
Tourism and council groups are joining together to understand where people are travelling from and how they’re spending money - which aims to help the local economy with advertising and better tailor what is on offer.
The project will cover the council-run areas of Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.
Sarah Elliott is the project manager
After a feasibility study earlier this year, the next phase of the Tourism Data Hub project will see the development and build of a cloud-based 'Data Hub solution' to gather and analyse data from a variety of sources.
This will include information from accommodation providers and attractions, transport networks, parking providers, the Meteorological Office plus third-party data to help analyse occupancy, revenue, footfall, and thoughts on the experience.It allow businesses to identify future trends and to react accordingly or to monitor data from previous weeks or months.
Richard Stevens, Chair of Destination Plymouth and LEP Board Director said: “The development of the Tourism Data Hub will bring enormous benefits to the whole region, allowing our businesses to use real-time data to make better business decisions and grow as a result.
"It’s great to see Devon and Somerset leading the way in how we use data as a sector.”
Destination Plymouth is undertaking the procurement for the Tourism Data Hub for the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise area of Devon and Somerset.
The project is funded by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with Destination Plymouth acting as lead body, working with a number of key partners.
David Ralph, CEO of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: “The procurement of the South West Tourism Data Hub is a significant step towards enhancing our region's vital tourism and hospitality sectors. We are delighted to be supporting this initiative, which will not only drive recovery from the challenges of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis but also foster innovation and growth.”