Step into the Cotswolds was developed by the Cotswolds Conservation Board and West Oxfordshire District Council and works in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council Countryside Service and tourism businesses (B&B, farm shops). Participating businesses will ask visitors to make a small voluntary contribution – businesses will have different ways of collecting this, opt in/out on visitors bills or booking fees, donation boxes or supplements on products an services. The scheme aims to raise funds for projects to help conserve the area, make it more accessible and tell people about the area’s special features.

Japanese tourists visiting the Lake District this summer have been asked to donate £5. The scheme is to help sustainable tourism in the Lake District. More than 70,000 Japanese visit the Lake District every year

Tour operators in Japan will encourage customers to donate the voluntary £5 and in return will receive a Peter Rabbit Badge and certificate as a thank you.

A new Tourism Development Strategy and Action Plan, designed to promote Londonderry and its surrounding attractions, has been made public by Derry City Council.    By promoting the distinctiveness of the region to overseas visitors, the domestic market and the Republic of Ireland, it is estimated that by 2010 the strategy could boost visitor numbers by 25% and visitor spending by 40%.

The Government’s Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism sets out information to help planners understand the important role which tourism plays in the UK and to help ensure this is taken into account when preparing development plans.   It is also a useful document for companies and organisations working in the tourism sector as it helps readers to understand the principles of national planning.  To download the report click here Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism (opens a pdf document).