Tourism
Morecambe, Lancaster & the Lune Valley
www.lancaster.gov.uk/tourism
Winter 2006/07
This newsletter is produced by Lancaster City Council's Economic Development and Tourism Service for the district’s tourism industry.
Welcome
Welcome to the second edition of 'Tourism News', the In this issue (as promised in our previous edition), we have
newsletter which features news and recent activities undertaken included a feature on our new website
by ourselves at Lancaster City Council's Economic Development www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk letting you know about our
and Tourism Service. latest online developments.
We are distributing this second newsletter by email only, but Finally, if you have any comments on this newsletter or would
please let us know if you would like a printed copy sent to you or like to provide suggestions of possible articles to include please
to someone you know within the tourism industry that does not let us know by emailing: tourism@lancaster.gov.uk or
have an email address. telephone (01524) 582816.
Internet Update
Our new website has been running for a few months now, so to our increasing
we are letting you know about some developments on the site database of customers
and how your business may be promoted on it. with short break and
Some background - The site www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk holiday ideas.
was launched earlier this year with its aim to promote the whole The site currently gets
district. For marketing purposes, we have also registered the over 10,000 visitors a
following domain names: www.visitmorecambe.co.uk, month (50,000 hits)
www.visitlancaster.co.uk, www.visitlunevalley.co.uk and and was indeed voted
www.visitcarnforth.co.uk. If you type in these addresses it top website in
directs you to the appropriate ‘destination’ page on the 'Webuser Magazine' in
www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk website. (i.e. type in their September
'www.visitmorecambe.co.uk' and this will take you to the edition!
Morecambe page featured on the district website.) Increasingly, visitors are planning their holidays on the internet, so
Following the launch of the site, we have been working hard to please take time to visit the site, check your listing and we would
increase visitor traffic to the site by ‘Search Engine Optimisation’ always appreciate it if you let us know about any changes or
(higher rankings on search engines like Google) and by ‘Pay Per images that you may wish to add. If you would like to know
Click’ campaigns (sponsored links pages on major search about how many visits your listing page has had and want to look
engines). In the New Year we will be sending out E-Newsletters at ways to improve it, please feel free to contact us.
New Industry Books...
VisitBritain have published and launched 2 new books:
"How to Run A Quality Bed and Breakfast" and
"How to Run Quality Self Catering Accommodation”.
Both publications have been written by tourism experts
at East of England Tourist Board and offer the very latest
in research, legislation and practical advice. They are
available in bookshops and via
www.enjoyenglanddirect.com, each priced at £9.99.
Morecambe Welcome to...
Regeneration Our tourism team
Congratulations
to Whittam Barn
in Morecambe for
achieving Enjoy
pictured earlier this England 5 stars for
year with Urban self catering…
Splash Director, and a warm
Paul Jones on a tour welcome into the
of the Midland Hotel guide for the first
currently being time to The Town House, Morecambe, Crows Nest Hotel,
restored in Edenbreck House, River Cottage, Whittam Barn,
Morecambe. The Moorings, Waterside Bungalow, Culdene and De Nada.
Cycling for All our district) will also greatly benefit – not least by the use of
Morecambe Promenade to cyclists, which will provide 8km of
traffic free riding looking out across the wonderful Morecambe
Bay. Our diverse district also offers an excellent choice for cyclists
from mountain biking in Bowland, to family friendly riverside
paths and the leafy lanes of the Arnside/Silverdale AONB.
Two new leaflets produced this year have proved useful to
commuters and tourists alike. The new 'Cycling and Walking Map'
and the 'Cycling for All' guide have been flying off the shelves and
Focus on Cycling have also received national coverage in a number of cycling
In October 2005, Lancaster with Morecambe was granted the magazines - proving that the Lancaster district is destination for
status of a ‘Cycling Demonstration Town’, just one of six places both local and visiting cyclists.
in the country. Central to this is the 'Celebrating Cycling' project – For copies of the leaflets pop into the Tourist Information Centres
with the aim of doubling cycling levels in the district. or visit: www.celebratingcycling.org for more information on
The project is primarily aimed at utility journeys i.e. those to the 'Celebrating Cycling' Project.
work and to school. However, leisure cyclists (including visitors to
New Publications The brand new Visitor Guide for We have also produced a brand new Conference Guide for the
Morecambe, Lancaster and the District which is available to download from our website –
Lune Valley has just been www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk/site/conferences.
printed! To commence our The publication features free
major marketing campaign the listings for venues promoting
guide is now being promoted their establishment for
on our website and is being conferences, meetings or
distributed across the country corporate hospitality. So, if you
through the national network need a venue for a conference
of Tourist Information Centres. or have already booked to
The front cover features host a conference and want
artwork by locally renowned information on what your
artist Chas Jacobs. The delegates could see or visit
accommodation guide will be during their stay here – the
launched as part of the official Conference Guide may be
opening ceremony for the newly refurbished Morecambe Visitor ideal for your business.
Information Centre on the 9 January 2007. We look forward to
seeing you there!
Trends, Research and Visitor Figures
As part of our work, we conduct or commission visitor research receiving the guide. In addition, we are expecting our
to aid our marketing and tourism plans. ‘Destination Benchmarking’ reports shortly – which profiles
‘STEAM’ (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor) Morecambe and Lancaster against similar visitor destinations
reports provide us with annual visitor figures for our district. across the UK.
Our 2005 report showed us that we welcomed over 4.7 million A wealth of tourism research and intelligence is available for you
visitors to our district which generated £217 million in revenue. to view on the Northwest Development Agency website at
We have recently commissioned a team of marketing students at www.nwriu.co.uk/tourism.asp. Alternatively, feel free to contact
Lancaster University to analyse the success of our Holiday Guide us if you require any research reports including copies of the
advertising campaigns, contacting accommodation providers and reports mentioned above.
customers again to see whether they booked as a result of
Tourist Board News
Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) has teamed up with If you would like further information
Made in Lancashire (MiL) and Quality in Tourism to produce a or are interested in participating in a
new quality award scheme for eating establishments. The local food event please contact
partnership recognises the importance of the food and drink Angela Brown on
industry to the Lancashire tourism product, and has developed 01257 226604 or email
this scheme to give acknowledgement to those establishments abrown@lbtbltd.com
who provide a consistently high quality eating experience.
Tourism Strategy for the Events 2007
District 2006-2010
The tourism strategy that was produced earlier this year sets out the
priorities for action by Lancaster City Council and partner organisations in
the development of tourism in the district. It was written in consultation
with local industry stakeholders (thank you to those who were involved in
this) and is available to download at www.lancaster.gov.uk/tourism.
Below is just a taster of events planned for 2007. Make sure to visit
Tourist Information Centres your local Tourist Information Centre in Morecambe or Lancaster or
log onto www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk for full up to date listings.
14 FEBRUARY 7.30PM-9PM
Morecambe Tourist ROMANTIC FILM NIGHT, CARNFORTH
Information Centre has had a ‘You Made Me Love You’ Valentine’s Day Short Film Night
busy few months! In autumn it Tel: 01524 722807.
won ‘Best Tourist Information 7 – 9 APRIL (SAT TO EASTER MONDAY)
GLASSON MARITIME WEEKEND
Centre of the Year’ in the Sea song and shanty performers and a vast array of other maritime
Lancashire and Blackpool events and activities at the port of Glasson.
Tel: 01524 32878. www.visitlancaster.co.uk
Tourist Board awards. It’s the
20 - 22 APRIL
second time Morecambe has HURDY-GURDY FESTIVAL AT THE GREGSON /
won the award for best Tourist FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE, LANCASTER
See the best british gurdy makers and their instruments!
Information Centre in Lancashire and Blackpool, as it also claimed the title Tel: 01524 32878. www.gurdy.co.uk
two years ago in 2004/05. Hot on the heels of the award, the TIC has 28 APRIL TO 7 MAY
been completely refurbished and is now open for business as the newly WRAY SCARECROW FESTIVAL
titled ‘Morecambe Visitor Information Centre’. Why not come and see (WRAY FAIR 7 MAY), LUNE VALLEY
Visit the village inhabited by fun loving scarecrows that magically
the improvements for yourself! appear each year.
Tel: 01524 32878. www.visitlunevalley.co.uk
Lancaster TIC - Now that the Morecambe centre has been refurbished,
5 - 8 MAY
work has started on designing a new Tourist Information Centre (TIC) for FRENCH FINE FOOD MARKET, MORECAMBE
Lancaster. This will be a "Hub" TIC in which the sub-region as well as the Stalls selling continental delicacies.
Tel: 01524 582808.
local area will be promoted. The new Lancaster Centre will be re-located
MID MAY – ONWARDS
within the Storey Institute and will act as a major interpretation point for BANDS IN THE PARK AT
the Castle Hill heritage area. We will be working closely with the County HAPPY MOUNT PARK, MORECAMBE
With the best of brass from around the North West each Sunday
Council’s Museums Service, as well as the local arts organisations, to afternoon from 2.30pm.
develop the TIC into a leading information Hub for the surrounding region. Tel: 01524 582808. www.visitmorecambe.co.uk
All being well, we should have this new TIC operational by the end of 2008. 25 MAY – 17 JUNE (FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND
SUNDAYS ONLY)
Finally - Accommodation Providers! Please remember to submit your LUNESDALE STUDIO TRAIL
availability to the Tourist Information Centres on a regular basis by calling Celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Visit artists’ studios in the Lune Valley.
Tel 015242 61167. www.lunesdalearts.co.uk
the Accommodation Booking Hotline on 01524 582393.
2 - 17 JUNE
THE BOWLAND FESTIVAL, FOREST OF BOWLAND
A festival to celebrate the birds, wildlife, landscape, heritage and rural
Tourism Team - Who to Contact life of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Tel: 01524 32878. www.forestofbowland.com.
5 JULY – 11 AUGUST
Advertising Opportunities / Marketing / Business Support THE DUKES OUTDOOR THEATRE,
Jane Silvester / Mark McTigue Tel: 01524 582816 WILLIAMSON PARK, LANCASTER
“Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi.
Email: tourism@lancaster.gov.uk Tel: 01524 598500. www.dukes-lancaster.org
Visitor Services Officer (Websites and Tourist Information Centres) 8 JULY
Allison Thomas / Ros Forster Tel: 01524 582397 CATCH THE WIND, MORECAMBE
Fantastic kite festival and family fun on the promenade.
Email: tourism@lancaster.gov.uk Tel: 01524 582808. www.visitmorecambe.co.uk
9 SEPTEMBER
MORECAMBE HERITAGE GALA, MORECAMBE
Stay in Touch! A free day of events on Morecambe promenade, featuring an RAF
aerial display and fantastic fireworks finale. Includes the Bradford to
Morecambe historic vehicle car run.
Tel: 01524 582808. www.visitmorecambe.co.uk
Remember to keep us up to date with your current contact details and
please feel free to get in touch with us about any tourism related issues or 14 - 16 SEPTEMBER
LANCASTER JAZZ FESTIVAL
opportunities that you may wish to discuss. You are also welcome to Various venues in Lancaster and Morecambe. Annual celebration of the
provide suggestions for future articles in this newsletter. very best in local, national and international jazz.
Tel: 01524 582803. www.visitlancaster.co.uk
Designed by Graphic Design Tel: 01524 825600 01/07