Agenda item
Minutes:
The Committee considered the undernoted report:
“1 Relevant Background Information
1.1 Members will be aware that at the meeting of the January Development Committee it was agreed to hold a special committee meeting to review proposals to spend £100,000 against the Delivering Tourism Locally initiative.
1.2 This funding was secured from Strategic Policy and Resources committee to support the delivering of the Belfast Integrated Strategic Framework, which was agreed by Development committee at the November meeting. Strategic Policy and Resources committee agreed to distribute the funding equally across East, North, Shankill, South and West of the city.
1.3 The final recommendations for each area are attached for Committee approval.
2 Key Issues
2.1 An additional £100,000 was secured by the Development
Department to initiate the Tourism Place Destination
Programme.
2.2 Committee were advised of the funding allocation in
November and agreed that officers progress the initiative.
2.3 Members have reviewed proposals and the recommendations for each area are attached as Appendix 1. In some instances Council will take the lead to deliver the activity and in others, local delivery partners including Area Partnership Boards will be utilised if appropriate.
2.4 Whilst some investment into local websites will be supported this will be kept to a minimum to drive web-traffic to the Gotobelfast.com website. Furthermore where trails and plaques are highlighted, the Tourism Culture and Arts unit will ensure consistency across the city.
2.5 An independent evaluation of the project will be undertaken
to assess if this pilot approach is worth continuing.
2.6 The funding must be spent by 31 March 2011.
3 Resource Implications
3.1 An additional £100,000 has been secured to pilot the Tourism Place Destinations during 2010/2011
4 Equality and Good Relations Considerations
4.1 No adverse impact on section 75 groupings. Each APB will be expected to demonstrate that they satisfy the Council’s equality and good relations policies.
5 Recommendations
5.1 Members are asked to agree the attached proposals to be delivered by the 31 March 2011.
6 Decision Tracking
Members will receive a full report on the programme in March 2011.
Timescale: March 2011 Reporting Officer: Kerrie Sweeney”
Appendix 1
North Belfast
The main areas proposed for support are:
|
Project
|
Description |
Cost |
|
North Belfast Cultural Corridor |
Develop a link between Library and Cathedral Quarters, Carlisle Circus and Crumlin Road Gaol. Workshop, Visitor Map Pilot tours, Awareness campaign and route branding |
£7000 |
|
Clifton Street Cemetery |
Regular series of tours of Clifton Street Cemetery. Marketing collateral and promotion of tours |
£2500 |
|
Historic Duncairn |
Physical interpretation of existing buildings and sites. Heritage route mapped and uploaded content onto gotobelfast.com And Pilot tours |
£5000 |
|
Welcome Host training |
Targeted across North Belfast. Welcome Host front office staff in the area |
£4000 |
|
Local Information Point |
To develop a local information point. Racking and branding Signage |
£1500 |
|
Tourism Network / Sub Committee |
Forum in North Belfast. North Belfast Tourism Action Plan |
£0 |
West Belfast
The proposal for Local Tourism Delivery in West Belfast came from Fáilte Feirste Thiar. It will be managed by The Tourism Development Co-ordinator and they have established the West Belfast Tourism Forum which will oversee activity and ensure local buy in.
The main areas proposed for support are:
|
Gateways
|
Gateway development at key sites into West Belfast. This will be delivered to complement the West Belfast Public Arts Strategy. |
£5000 |
|
NITB conference
|
Attendance at NITB inaugural conference – 2012 – your year of opportunity. Fáilte Feirste Thiar will send 5 delegates to the conference. |
£325 |
|
BVCB Marketing Platforms
|
West Belfast is proposing enhanced coverage within BVCB marketing platforms. For example West Belfast destinations will feature in adverts and editorials within Whatabout publications, within a series of posters in the Belfast Welcome Centre and attendance at key trade shows to develop one to one relationships with tour operators. |
£7500 |
|
Social Media
|
FáilteFeirste Thiar will work with a social media consultant to establish a training programme for a number of members of the West Belfast Tourism Forum to maximise social media opportunities. |
£1750 |
|
Website Development |
Modernisation of visitwestbelfast.com to link social media platforms. |
£1000 |
|
Welcome Host
|
Run a series of Welcome Host courses, targeting 50 individuals |
£4100 |
East Belfast
The proposal for Local Tourism Delivery in East Belfast came from East Belfast Partnership. It will be managed by the partnership’s Socio-Economic Officer, reporting to the Partnership’s Chief Executive. They have established a Tourism Sub –Committee to oversee delivery of the project.
The main areas proposed for support are:
|
Tourism Potential Action Plan
|
East Belfast partnership will develop a plan to maximise the cultural offering in East Belfast beyond Titanic to offer a broader visitor experience by exploring the potential around CS Lewis, Van Morrison, George Best and other aspects of Industrial Heritage. |
£5000 |
|
Titanic People Heritage Trail
|
Content development and purchase of images. Fold out heritage map produced. |
£4550 |
|
Development of location plaques / signage at key historical locations |
5 plaques developed |
£2400 |
|
Titanic People celebrations
|
Titanic people video podcast developed and launched with Hosting of the Boat Factory |
£6700 |
|
Data and content management on gotobelfast.com |
This will be managed by Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau |
£350 |
|
Evaluation of initiative |
This will be undertaken via BCC |
£1000 |
Greater Shankill
The proposal for Local Tourism Delivery in Greater Shankill came from Greater Shankill Partnership. It will be managed by the partnership’s Arts and Tourism Co-ordinator, reporting to the Partnership’s Tourism Sub Committee.
The main areas proposed for support are:
|
Improving Visitor Servicing
|
Design and install interpretive signage at the peace wall at Cupar Way as well as selected murals. |
£6450 |
|
Improving Visitor Servicing and marketing the local area |
Content development and print of Shankill Leaflet, including Trail |
£6026 |
|
Marketing and Familiarisation Trips |
Run a series of trips to the Shankill for front of office staff across the city |
£770 |
|
Improving the Product Offering within the Greater Shankill |
Research and develop new interpretative exhibition with the Shankill Interpretative Centre in the Spectrum. |
£5754 |
|
Evaluation of initiative |
This will be undertaken via BCC |
£1000 |
South Belfast
The main areas for support are:
|
Electronic Content Development
|
To develop a dedicated visitor app (or similar technology) featuring key sites and trails across South Belfast and in particular concentrating on hidden gems and quirky sites e.g. Friar’s Bush, Fairy Thorn, Sandy Row as well as famous people |
£12000 |
|
Interpretation at key sites |
Support the above trail through selected interpretation at key sites |
£4000 |
|
Enhanced coverage of South Belfast
|
Book special features in BVCB materials and within the Belfast Welcome Centre to get the message out about the less well known places |
£4000 |
|
Workshops / networking sessions
|
Liaise with key stakeholders to include Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships to explore further opportunities |
£0” |
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.
Supporting documents:
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