Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2012 Tourism and Visitor Management This topic paper focuses on visitor management on the Dorset Coast and summarises tourism in Dorset and outlines some possible future trends and their implications; The Dorset coast and its maritime waters are arguably Dorset's most important single tourism asset and one of the principal attractions for visitors to Dorset with the top visitor motivations for visiting the area were ‘seaside, beaches and coast’ (http://www.visitdorset.com/xsdbimgs/State%20of%20Tourism%20Report%202010.pdf. Tourism, however, is also a source of many of the pressures on the coastal environment and communities. An increase in visitors at any location along the Dorset Coast (whether one already under pressure from high visitor numbers or a perceived ‘tranquil’ zone) can potentially impact negatively on local landscape and infrastructure. How to build the tourism economy, whilst sustaining the coastal environment, represents a huge and continuing challenge. this influx of visitors to ensure that the World Heritage Site designation was given to a management of visitors is done effectively. large part of the Dorset coast in 2001. The Jurassic Coast is now a well known brand and is The coastal landscapes and small towns and a visitor attractor in its own right. Anecdotal villages represent a series of visitor attractions. evidence suggests an increase in overseas Lyme Regis, in the west of the county, is famous visitors since World Heritage Site designation in for its connection with Jane Austen, Mary 2001. Anning and the Cobb and, together with Charmouth, is the main centre for fossil Ports and harbours are important to visitors collecting along the Jurassic Coast. Chesil Beach with Poole Harbour bringing visitors from attracts visitors for recreational purposes, in abroad into the county as well as providing an particular angling and at 17 miles long, is one of The Dorset coast is approximately 285 Km attractive centre for yachting, watersports and the world’s finest barrier beaches. The Isle of (including Poole harbour) in length and has two boat trips. Local harbours such as Christchurch, Portland and Portland Bill are also popular larger conurbation areas, numerous towns and Weymouth and West Bay harbour are places visitor attractions. Hengistbury Head in the far some smaller more rural communities. There where a huge range of activities take place and east of the county attracts in the region of are many publicly accessible beaches with attract a great deal of visitors. 780,000 people annually. A new visitor centre multiple owners and a National Trail running its at Durlston Country Park, Durlston Castle is now length. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Sailing a world class 'Gateway Centre' for the park and events is attracting and will continue to attract a for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage. The marine environment, with its diverse large number of visitors to the Dorset area, underwater wildlife, clean waters and particularly to Weymouth and Portland. Over 1 million people walk some of the South underwater archaeology attracts many to the Transport, safety and infrastructure measures West Coast Path National Trail between Poole area for diving and other recreational pursuits have all been taken into account to deal with and Lyme Regis each year, with the most walked such as diving, kite surfing and sailing. section of the entire 630 mile route being the 1 Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2012 Tourism and Visitor Management one mile between Durdle Door and Lulworth Coastal Visitor Accommodation Cove. The Countryside and Public Rights of Way There is a variety of accommodation available Serviced accommodation represents the Act (2000) and the new Marine and Coastal within the county, ranging from holiday parks , mainstay of accommodation in the conurbations Access Act (2009) provide a legislative basis for 1-5 star hotels, self catering cottages to farm (Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth). The lack further improvements to coastal access stays. of growth in the residential market has restricted investment, and a proportion of Several private estates in the area contain Over the past 30 years there has been a marked serviced accommodation in some of the county's nationally recognised geomorphological features change in the requirement for the different smaller resorts is in need of improvement. The formed as a result of natural processes acting on accommodation types. In the early 1960s increased expectations of tourists means a large the geology. These include the Encombe estate approximately 20% of visitors stayed in self majority consider en-suite accommodation as at Kimmeridge and the Weld Estate at Lulworth, catering accommodation, whist the remaining standard and not as a luxury. famous for Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove - it is 80% stayed in serviced accommodation (hotels, estimated that over 500,000 people visit B & Bs and guest houses). There is a growing awareness of issues of Lulworth Cove annually. In 2010 self catering accommodation represents sustainability and the concept of ‘green’ tourism some 70% of tourist accommodation. The has become much more mainstream since 2000. The National Trust own and manage over 17 accommodation range, however, is not divided Visitors, particularly the European market have kilometres of the Dorset coastline, including evenly throughout the county and some areas high levels of environmental awareness and Golden Cap Estate, Ringstead Beach, West are much more dependent on one form of expect the same of their destination. 25 holiday Bexington, Studland Bay and Corfe Castle & accommodation than another. Holiday parks parks in Dorset have achieved the David Bellamy village and deal with many thousands of visitors represent a large proportion of the conservation standards and 44 other to these areas per year. accommodation in rural Dorset. For example, in accommodation providers hold the Green West Dorset, 80% of the accommodation is Tourism Business Scheme award. In addition The county has over 120 built visitor attractions within holiday parks. businesses can become a Jurassic Coast Quality covering a range of interests including historical Partner who support the conservation of the properties, wildlife attractions, museums and The trends in the market have led to many of Jurassic Coast World Heritage. exhibitions, gardens and country parks. These these sites investing in ancillary leisure facilities, attractions have a particular value in providing in order to meet increasing expectations of Visitor categories wet weather alternatives to outdoor activities. quality within the family holiday market. As a Two main categories of visitors can be identified They also include local amenities such as retail result standards have probably increased at a – these can then be divided into four types of centres, leisure complexes such as Tower Park greater rate than hotels with on many sites hire trip: (Poole) and local sports facilities. caravans are replaced every three to four years. And more care is taken witrh the environment Day Visitors - those who visit Dorset and There are many Visitor Centres as well as within the park such as an increase in tree return to their home, on the same day. Tourism Information Centres along the coast planting or caravans chosen that merge better Many visit on the spur of the moment as a into the countryside. result of good weather, or to undertake a 2 Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2012 Tourism and Visitor Management recreational activity or visit a built or o Special Interest (Day or had the first decline in visitor numbers to the UK natural attraction. Statistics show that overnight visitors) - Includes from abroad since 2001 and a decline of 2.7% although many day visitors are local both recreational users who from 20071. residents others are happy to travel from as travel to the coast to undertake far away as London, the Midlands and other a specific sport as well as those Domestic trip taking in 2008 also declined by parts of the South West. who visit the area for its almost 5% since 20071. geological, historical, literary or In 2009 the UK still was in recession, causing a Overnight Visitors - spend at least one night wildlife interest. rise in demand for domestic holiday trips during in paid accommodation within the county. the year as people took holidays closer to home. They include educational and business trips o Local Resident-Visitors (Day The UK took 42.3 million domestic holidays in as well as holidays in the region. On average visitors) Dorset residents do not 2009; this was greater than the number of 20% of all visitors to the Dorset coast stay often consider themselves as holidays abroad for the first time in five years2. overnight and their average level of 'tourists' whilst in Dorset, spending is over twice that of day visitors. although many utilise the coast New tourism trends emerging since the and its facilities in a similar way recession include: o Business Trips (Day or overnight to those visiting from out of the Increased competition from foreign holidays visitors) Business trips are county. and a decline in long UK family holidays; mainly confined to the eastern An increase in second, or third, short UK conurbation as Bournemouth Trends of Tourism in Dorset: trips; has a wide range of conference Coastal tourism in Dorset has developed in the An increase in day trips, which does not use facilities, including the same way as many other coastal regions; resorts local accommodation; Bournemouth International developed in the wake of the Georgian and A growth in interest in niche markets for Centre (BIC) which is the venue Victorian fashion for sea bathing. There was special interest holidays, including an for some of the UK's major steady growth through the 50s, 60s and early industry focus on how to generate business conferences.