Destination Development Plan Consultants

We have an established track record delivering sustainable destination development and destination management plans across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, working with emerging destinations building their visitor economy from scratch, and established ones such as coastal resorts adapting to changing market conditions.

Balancing growth with climate, biodiversity and community wellbeing

Two pressures now shape almost every destination development and destination management plan we prepare: the climate and biodiversity emergencies, and the need to balance economic growth with the wellbeing of host communities. We help clients navigate both with strategies that are ambitious, deliverable, and grounded in commercial reality rather than aspiration alone. Destination management advisory work has covered Cumbria, North Wales, the Scottish Highlands and rural England, each tailored to the specific pressures and opportunities of that place.

At the same time, a growing number of popular destinations are grappling with the strain of rising visitor numbers on roads, car parks, footpaths and fragile natural environments, alongside the knock-on effects for local residents’ quality of life.  Getting the balance right calls for a destination management plan that spreads visitors more evenly across the year and across a wider area, manages capacity at the busiest sites, and channels a fair share of the benefits of tourism back into the places and communities that host it.

Destination management plans for activity and adventure tourism

We hold particular expertise in destination management planning for the adventure and activity tourism sectors. A strong activity and adventure offer is one of the most effective ways to grow a local visitor economy, it lifts average length of stay and spend per trip, and creates opportunities across accommodation providers, specialist operators such as mountain biking centres, guiding businesses, catering and retail.

Commercial realism, not just theory

What sets us apart is the commercial realism we bring to every destination management plan. Through our sister company, we have direct, hands-on experience managing a diverse portfolio of tourism businesses, including a watersports destination, a heritage centre, visitor attractions, a brewery and a hotel. We don’t just advise on destination development; we understand what it takes to make a destination management plan work in practice.

Clients we’ve worked with

• North Wales Tourism Partnership: Produced the destination vision and tourism action plan for adventure and activity tourism in North Wales
• Cumbria Tourism: Advised on the strategic development of their adventure tourism product across the county, which includes the Lake District National Park
• Monaghan County Council: Prepared a development study to support the growth of outdoor recreation and eco-tourism at Sliabh Beagh
• North Soar Trails Syndicate: Feasibility study into the opportunity of creating a destination, initially based on the great outdoors and heritage assets, including a number of churches
• British Council: Provide a tourism strategy and action programme for Macedonia and Thrace. In particular investigating the potential for sustainable cultural and heritage tourism along with specialist activity-based holidays
• Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority:  Feasibility study to assess the opportunity to extend the boundary of the Fforest Fawr UNESCO Global Geopark
• Kent County Council: We managed a European-funded programme to evaluate the potential for new tourism development to support the destination development of Kent and the wider Transmanche Region
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: Prepared a Heritage Destination Development Framework for the Vale of Neath to support the Levelling Up Fund application. This set out options to support the sustainable development of built and natural heritage assets within the Vale of Neath, helping to increase overnight stays and spend within the local economy and helped to secure £19m from the Levelling Up Fund
• Redcar & Cleveland District Council: Prepared a five-year Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the Council to help extend the season and create a year-round tourist destination
• Cardiff Capital Region: We were appointed by CCR to prepare a Baseline and Strategic Review to understand the potential of the visitor economy and its regional assets and identify high-level options for future collaboration and improved joint working across the SE Wales region
• East Lothian Council: Working with the Council, we prepared a visitor management plan and an integrated sustainable destination development plan for the county, which identified a number of strategic actions to support the ongoing sustainable development of the tourism offer
• Wealden District Council: Carried out a feasibility study into the wine tourism sector to identify and analyse approaches to supporting the growth and development of the viticulture sector within the District
• Falkirk Council and Historic Environment Scotland: Prepared a Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan for the village of Blackness, which incorporates Blackness Castle, which has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers due to the Outlander Film
• Thanet District Council: Prepared a tourist accommodation strategy which included an audit, analysis and assessment of tourism accommodation in Thanet, including future development prospects
• Tendring District Council: Preparation of a feasibility study to develop ideas and an overall vision for the stretch of coastline between Clacton Pier and Holland Haven
• Bridgend County Borough Council: We were appointed to support the design and development of the Bridgend County Visitor Events Strategy and Investment Action Plan (we were reappointed to update the strategy)
• West Lindsey District Council: Refreshed the existing Visitor Economy Strategy to reflect the latest market and economic trends
• Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: We were commissioned to produce a sustainable destination management plan for Neath Port Talbot

Find out more about our destination development projects here.

What our clients say

“The team was commissioned by Tourism Partnership North Wales to prepare a new Vision and Action Plan for the outdoor sector in North Wales. North Wales is internationally recognised as providing excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation, with a strong activity ‘offer’ based on its outstanding environmental assets and range of activities available. However, partners recognised a lack of co-ordination and connection across the broad policy and programme agenda associated with the outdoor sector.

It has been a pleasure to work with the team, and move from a position of little informed to much greater understanding of the sector and the opportunities that it offers to the region of North Wales. The thorough review of the external factors, trends – economic, socio-demographic influencing the outdoor sector and customer choice provided a great platform for identifying the opportunities and threats to its future in the North Wales. The assessment of comparator and competitor areas, cross referenced with a rigorous audit of the existing local product has led to clear Vision Statement, with supporting Strategic Objectives and a clear cut Action Plan. The incorporation of interview comments and edits of information to the work in progress were easily secured – thus delivering a consultative document with a high level of ownership from the engaged parties.” Dewi Davies,  former Regional Strategy Director Tourism Partnership North Wales.

Talk to us about your project

Every destination is different, and every destination development or destination management plan we prepare starts with a conversation about what you’re trying to achieve, whether that’s growing an emerging visitor economy, responding to changing market conditions, or building a stronger activity and adventure offer. If you’d like to talk through an idea or a brief, we’d be glad to hear from you.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a destination development or destination management plan for your area, please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk