Exmoor Tourism Update

Read the latest news and updates for tourism providers in Exmoor National Park

Keeping tourism businesses up to date with the work of Exmoor National Park

Welcome to the Exmoor National Park Tourism Update. This is published every two months to keep tourism providers up to date with the latest news, resources and information in support of developing sustainable tourism on Exmoor.

Don't forget to check our website for useful information from the latest research to business toolkits at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/tourism.

Increased visitor satisfaction - new Visitor Survey results out now!

Tourism satisfaction on Exmoor is at an all-time high according to the results of the 2016 Visitor Survey conducted by the Exmoor National Park Authority with 99 percent of visitors rating their overall satisfaction level as either 'Very Good' (76%) or 'Good' (23%). Satisfaction levels have increased in all areas including quality and value of accommodation, rights of way, roads and signage since the survey was last carried out in 2014.

For all the info on what our visitors are doing, why they're coming and what they think download the full report here (PDF).

Exmoor Dark Skies Festival

19 - 29 October 2017 - opportunity for businesses and groups

Exmoor National Park Authority are pleased to confirm that we will running Exmoor Dark Skies Festival from Thursday 19th October to Sunday 29th October 2017 - a ten day festival of activities for families and enthusiasts to celebrate Exmoor's dark skies and enable people to experience the exceptional quality of our starry nights.

There will be bookable sessions in our pop-up planetarium and informative and engaging talks, guided star-lit walks and children's workshops with our education team and rangers. W e would also welcome other organisations and tourism businesses to take part. Groups may wish to host their own event or support others and businesses may wish to use the festival in their own marketing to attract more visitors in this quieter season.

If you are interested in running an event or using the festival to attract more visitors and would like to discuss ideas, please contact Katrina Munro (Economy Project Officer) who is coordinating the event: [email protected]; 01398 322236

Download and print the poster (PDF)

www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/darkskiesfestival

New videos: Exmoor - a journey through time

Visitors can now watch the new film 'Exmoor - a journey through time' at Lynmouth and Dunster National Park Centres.

Here's a link to the YouTube playlist where you can also watch the films. You may want to embed them into your own websites; viewers can choose to watch any of the 12 individual chapters or watch a 17 minute or fuller 30 minute version.

Exmoor information leaflets

If any tourism businesses require supplies of ENPA literature such as Exmoor Visitor 2017 or the pocket guides, please visit a National Park Centre. For a full list of publications click here (PDF).

If you have any queries e-mail Katrina Munro [email protected] ;

BBC presenter John Craven unveils "The Walker"

BBC Countryfile's John Craven unveiled an iconic new statue "The Walker" on The Esplanade in Lynmouth, on Monday 8 May.

Designed and constructed by local craftsman Richard Graham, the statue shows a larger-than-life walker stretching out his hand in greeting to those completing the Coleridge Way and the Two Moors Way as well as marking the passing of both the South West Coast Path and the Tarka Trail. It is already proving popular and will provide a perfect photo opportunity highlighting the exceptional walking opportunities across Exmoor.

The unveiling will be broadcast on BBC Countryfile Diaries on the 2 June.

Half term activities

With half term approaching you'll be pleased to know there are lots of events going on for visitors.

Don't miss the last week of the inaugural Coast and Moor festival from Visit Exmoor with some great outdoor and active events - see the full line up here.

In addition the National Park Authority has a series of family wild watch events running - see full details here.

Don't forget the National Park events calendar has details of a whole range of events running each week throughout the year.

Exmoor Awareness training for Tourism Businesses

ENPA is re-launching its popular training course designed to introduce businesses to the National Park and its special qualities.

We aim to help tourism based businesses offer an outstanding service to their visitors by increasing their confidence, knowledge and understanding of the National Park. Educational input will be underpinned with sound business advice and practical support on subjects such as experiential marketing and understanding what makes your business attractive to customers.

The first session is aimed at those new to the area and introduces just how special Exmoor is and how businesses can help their guests benefits from it. The second session is for those wanting to delve a bit deeper and to really benefit as a business located in a National Park. An additional update day will be held each year open to new and old businesses alike to keep everyone up to date with the latest projects, findings and initiatives.

Dates for the first two sessions to be run in the Dunster National Park Centre will be 7th and 14th November 2017 and details of how to book on the course will be circulated in our next E-newsletter, but do get in touch if you'd like to register your interest. The course will be repeated in Lynmouth in early 2018 along with the first update session.

CareMoor for Exmoor & Park Partners

This month we have brought together our Park Partner and CareMoor for Exmoor schemes to offer an enhanced way to recognise those businesses working with the National Park at the heart of all they do and encouraging visitor-gifting to sustain Exmoor as a great visitor destination. The Exmoor National Park Partner Scheme has recognised and rewarded those businesses and organisations that put the National Park at the heart of all they do. This will now continue through CareMoor.

CareMoor for Exmoor is the National Park's visitor gifting scheme encouraging all those who enjoy Exmoor to support vital conservation and access work through donations, invited through opt-in/out donations on bookings, hosting collection boxes with National Park Pocket Guides or raising funds through events or activities. Funds raised contribute to additional nature, access and heritage projects on Exmoor which wouldn't otherwise be possible.

CareMoor Park Partners will be the top level of recognition from the National Park Authority for those businesses that can demonstrate a commitment to the values of the National Park and also actively promote the CareMoor scheme.

If you aren't already a CareMoor for Exmoor supporter and would like to sign-up to the scheme, which is free, please get in touch. As a business you simply act as an intermediary promoting CareMoor to visitors in return for recognition and publicity.

CareMoor enquiries to: [email protected] ;

Successful business networking day

Richard Havers the new chairman of Visit Exmoor welcomed over 50 members to the AGM held at Porlock Village Hall in March. There were presentations from Visit Exmoor, the National Park Authority and the Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership - available online here. The meeting was followed by a 'Leaflet Exchange' with around 30 tourism attractions and organisations represented and over 100 tourism providers in attendance to stock up on information for the coming season.

To find out more about joining Visit Exmoor and how members benefit, contact Jennette Baxter on [email protected] 07956 829633

www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/trade/join