tourism and local economic development in england

Tourism Policy and Local Economic

Development in England

James KennellDirector, Economic Development Resource Centre

Senior Lecturer in Tourism and RegenerationUniversity of Greenwich Business School

The new UK government

• Created in 2010 after an electoral crisis

• Centre-right coalition• Economic crisis driving

policy

Impacts on tourism in England

• Broad changes– Regional Development Agencies abolished– Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) created

• Tourism an early priority (Kennell & Chaperon 2010)

• Tourism governance changes– Regional DMO funding cut– Restructure and cuts for national DMOs– Increased role for private sector in destination

development and management

(Adapted from Buccelato et al 2010: 47)

Tourism and Local Economic Development in England

• Post 1997– Boosterism / Trickle-down economics– Community-level work as sustainable

development– State-driven

“reduce the sector’s dependence on taxpayer

funding” (DCMS 2011:8)

Generally constrained by older models of economic development (orthodox, community)

Governance restructure creates opportunities for progressive LED

• Role for third sector• Local leadership

Tourism and LED in the new policy

• “a particularly effective vehicle for regenerating run-down neighbourhoods, using relatively small amounts of new investment…festivals and cultural connections can be equally powerful…which then acts as a catalyst” (DCMS 2011: 12).

• Sustainable development replaced with ‘economic sustainability’

New economic

models -

Dashboards

Glocalisation -

Local distinctiveness

for global markets

Events -

The end of blockbuster attractions?

Conclusion

• Centre right / neoliberal government• Tourism policy reflects that….• BUT – because of the economic crisis– Localism– Role for third-sector– Private sector engagement

• There are possibilities for tourism being linked to progressive LED