Aims

Tourism South East, which covers the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, East and West Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and South Wiltshire, is an independent company limited by guarantee, based on a partnership between local government, the commercial sector, SEEDA and, through it, Central Government.  It is a membership organisation which exists to increase the economic and social benefits from tourism in the region whilst safeguarding the urban and rural environments on which much of it is based.

The objectives for which the Board is established are:-

1.         in co-operation with local authorities, commerce and other bodies, to develop and maintain a co-ordinated strategy for tourism in the region;

2.         to maintain close liaison with planning authorities on policies affecting tourism and to have regard to the pressures imposed by tourism upon the environment;

3.         in association with local authorities and commerce, to stimulate the development of tourist facilities and amenities, in accordance with strategic planning objectives;

4.         to represent the interests of tourism throughout the region;

5.         to secure the provision of reception and information services for tourists to the region in association with local authorities and commercial interests where appropriate, including co-ordination of regional tourist information centres as part of the national network and to collect and disseminate tourist information relative to the region;

6.         to advise SEEDA, Visit Britain and other government departments on major policy issues arising in the region.

7.         to implement agreed schemes on behalf of Visit Britain;

8.         to ensure the proper promotion of the region as an area for holidays, business travel and conventions, in co-operation with local authorities, other Regional Tourist Boards, Visit Britain and British Tourist Authority;

9.         to carry out a continuous domestic public relations campaign with authorities, the travel trade and the public within the region with a view to ensuring that issues are understood and the regional and national objectives known.  To create awareness of the need for tourism to be managed for the benefit of the community as a whole as well as tourists;

10.       to enhance the status of tourism as a career through the provision and promotion of education and training programmes;

11.       to encourage higher standards within the tourism industry and quality assurance for customers.

Councillor Commitment

The Council’s representative is appointed to the Board’s Tourism Council, which meets twice a year, within the region between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.

Council Representative:       One representative appointed annually to the Tourism Council to represent their Council’s interests. 

Expectations of Councillors attending

1.             Invited to attend 1 or 2 meetings per year.

2.             Could provide additional assistance in the form of support for local tourism campaigns, events and initiatives.