All About Ipswich, founded and support by Ipswich Central, launches NEW Business Strategy to help boost local visitor economy
All About Ipswich, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for the Greater Ipswich area, founded and supported by Ipswich Central, has launched its latest Business Strategy with objectives to help boost the local visitor economy with a range of projects, campaigns and initiatives that aim to attract new visitors to the town, develop the visitor offer and support local businesses as the tourism sector recovers from the COVID-19 restrictions.
Tourism is one of the UKs largest industries and the third largest employer, providing jobs for 3.3million people and contributing £145billion in the UK economy (figures from the Tourism Alliance). In Suffolk, the visitor economy provides over 44,000 jobs, 14.2% of all employment in the county, and contributes over £2.1billion to the local economy (figures from 2019/20 report from Visit East of England).
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown measures have had an immeasurable impact on the sector with hotels, attractions and leisure forced to close and staff placed on furlough; with many looking to alternative sectors for employment.
To help visitors and tourists safely return to Ipswich and Suffolk whilst supporting local businesses, All About Ipswich has set out a series of projects including the following:
- To develop targeted ‘staycation’ campaigns that attract domestic tourists to Ipswich.
- To work with the Ipswich Vision to implement digital trails that attract visitors and celebrate the town’s heritage, arts and culture.
- To work with the We Are Ipswich collective of cultural organisations to develop, elevate and promote their offer.
- To work with Ipswich Central on promoting events on the Cornhill Square and in the town centre to help boost footfall and spend.
- To support local businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Read the full list of aim and projects in the All About Ipswich Business Strategy 2021-22 document available online: www.bit.ly/AllAboutIpswichStrategy
Professor Dave Muller, Chair of All About Ipswich, says: “I am really pleased to release our new Business Strategy. Tourism and attracting visitors is vital for our County Town. Ipswich is the ideal place in which to stay and explore our beautiful County – whilst having its own excellent array of attractions and things to do with theatres, museums, restaurants and festivals.”
Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive of New Wolsey Theatre, comments: “All About Ipswich has been hugely influential for us with their large following of people who are interested in Ipswich. For us at the New Wolsey Theatre, All About Ipswich has been a great tool for us to promote everything we’re doing and have to offer.”
Oliver Paul, Director of Suffolk Food Hall and Chair of Shotley Tourism Group, adds: "All About Ipswich is a progressive enabler to develop the local visitor economy; as are all the DMOs in the region. This is done by promoting local businesses, raising awareness of the wider offering, and getting Ipswich and Suffolk into the immediate thoughts of potential visitors.”
Professor Muller concludes: “All About Ipswich will be redoubling its efforts to ensure that the Ipswich area is further established as a great place to visit, to study, to live and to enjoy.”
Local visitor economy businesses can take advantage of free membership of All About Ipswich Member which will give them a listing on the All About Ipswich website, features on the social media channels with over 38,000 followers and features in promoted blogs, itineraries and upcoming visitor campaigns. Contact info@allaboutipswich.com for more information.
