Issue - meetings

The Chair of the Scrutiny Commission submits a scoping document for the proposed scrutiny review on the effectiveness of current and planned strategies to encourage tourism in Leicester.

The City Centre Director will provide a response.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Commission presented a scoping document for the proposed scrutiny review on the effectiveness of current and planned strategies to encourage tourism in Leicester. Sarah Harrison, City Centre Director was present to provide a response.

The Chair asked that suggestions of what could be included in the review be provided by Members, and the following points were raised:

·         The use of local communities and businesses to deliver tourism events, including direct tourism spend and jobs created;

·         Local heritage;

·         What make Leicester residents proud;

·         Other attractions, including the County, for example, Twycross Zoo;

·         As part of Leicester’s past, consideration should be given to the development of a textile museum.

·         How does the Council build on recent findings, current offers or future offers that bring people into the city, for example, the Comedy Festival, National Rail Museum, the Story of Leicester;

·         Market research should be undertaken to gather evidence that investment would increase tourism;

·         Travel to and parking facilities in the city;

·         Emphasise differences and uniqueness of attractions in the city;

·         Build on the Richard III findings and exhibition;

·         Issues around place marketing and place management, and tourism-related asset development.

·         Need to look at the impact on the City as a whole and not just the City Centre;

·         Provision gaps – the Riverside development, leisure facility on Corah’s site, large arena.

Sarah said she found the comments useful and positive. She said the review would look at place marketing, leisure and business tourism, and residents and students would be targeted. She added tourism was a growing industry and it was important to involve young people and school leavers with regards to future employment opportunities, as tourism was a good industry for this age group and also for people who need to work part-time. She added that the Richard III findings and subsequent exhibition was a springboard to develop the tourism industry in Leicester.

The Chair said the scoping document would be amended following discuss, and that a timetable for the review would be developed to gather external and internal evidence.

RESOLVED:

1.    that the scoping document be agreed.