Help to Thrive

In a Cotswolds Tourism survey to businesses, 79% of respondents said they were unsure of what a travel trade friendly experience was. The survey also highlighted a need for training on how to reach new audiences and engaging with digital solutions. Using this evidence and tourism trends data showing visitors eager to engage with local people and local experiences, Cotswolds Tourism successfully bid for funding from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver ‘Help to Thrive’ project during 2024 to March 2025. The new experiences continue to be promoted this year.

The project was open to all visitor economy businesses, and the project aims were to help local visitor economy businesses develop new experiences, reach new audiences and start their journey to become bookable online. You can watch the recording of the first session here.

We ran a range of specialist training workshops virtually and in person covering topics including how to market your business, how to attract the walking and cycling markets, and embracing the travel trade, alongside 121 support with recordings and supporting guidance for businesses.

The project enabled a number of businesses to reach new audiences and markets as well as some useful resources including:

Visitor Ready free accreditation recording

How to develop a new experience

Fundamentals of working with the travel trade

Guidance notes & templates on working with the trade are available on request.

While the funding for this project has now ceased, we continue to seek further opportunities to work with businesses. If your business is keen to develop a new experience or work with others locally then email [email protected] and one of the team involved in Help to Thrive will contact you.