Destination Management Plan Consultants
We help Destination Management Organisations, councils and tourism partnerships, and local communities work out how to manage destinations sustainably. A Destination Management Plan sets the shared direction for a place and a supporting action plan that responds to host community, market, environmental, and economic needs. This helps ensure that individual projects, funding bids, and marketing activity align rather than occur in isolation.
Why organisations come to us for this
Most destinations face a number of challenges, but no single agreed plan of action. Different stakeholders the council, local businesses, DMOs, land managers and the local community often have different priorities, and funding decisions get made project by project rather than against a shared strategy. A destination management plan brings these interests together, tests the destination’s tourism offer against real visitor trends and market conditions, and sets out a prioritised, deliverable action plan.
Our destination management services include
- Destination audits: Assessing the current tourism product, visitor numbers and accommodation base to build a clear picture of the baseline position, including gaps, constraints and opportunities
- Stakeholder engagement: Consultation, workshops and surveys with local businesses, communities and partner organisations, so the plan reflects what the destination can realistically deliver
- Vision and positioning: Defining what the destination should be known for, and which markets and products it should prioritise
- Development action plans: A prioritised, deliverable set of actions covering product development, infrastructure, marketing and visitor management
- Sector-specific product development: Particular expertise in adventure and activity tourism, wine tourism and accommodation strategy, where a strong niche offer can lift the average length of stay and visitor spend
Destination management projects
- Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council: Working alongside Blue Sail, we produced a five-year Destination Management Plan to extend the season and build a year-round destination, drawing on the borough’s coastline, heritage and proximity to the North York Moors
- Neath Port Talbot: A destination management plan built around the area’s outdoor and adventure tourism strengths, including Afan Forest Park and Waterfall Country, backed by consultation, workshops and a market assessment
- East Lothian Council: A hybrid visitor management and destination management plan covering key honeypot sites and the wider council area, prepared to meet Scottish Government RTIF requirements
- Cumbria Tourism: Advice on developing the adventure and activity tourism product
- Wealden District Council: Development of the district’s wine tourism product
- Thanet District Council: A visitor accommodation strategy to support the wider destination plan
- Havant Borough Council: Hayling Island seafront masterplanning – supporting the visitor economy
Follow the link to find out more about our destination management projects.
What makes us different
We don’t just prepare destination plans; through our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited (PSL), we’ve spent 30 years operating and investing in visitor attractions, heritage sites and tourism businesses. That means we test destination proposals against what we know works commercially. This operational experience also helps when engaging with local tourism businesses to develop the destination management plan; we understand the issues and challenges they face firsthand.
PSL manages:
- CONKERS, a discovery centre set within 120 acres, including a covered amphitheatre
- Kent Life Heritage Park, celebrating rural life across Kent
- Cotswold Country Park and Beach, a seasonal country park and watersports destination
- The Royal Esplanade Hotel, a 70-bed coastal resort hotel on the Isle of Wight
- Burton Bridge Brewery and Burton Bridge Inn
- National Brewery Centre, formerly the Bass Museum, managed by PSL from 2010 to 2022
Where a destination management plan leads
Once the plan is agreed, delivery often needs more detailed work behind individual actions, a visitor accommodation strategy, a visitor management plan for pressured sites, or a feasibility study for a specific piece of infrastructure. We’re happy to carry that work through, or hand over a clear plan for your team and partners to take forward.
How can we help?
If you have any questions about preparing a destination management plan, or would like to discuss our work in the destination development sector, please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk.