May 2019
Tourism Business Update - May 2019
Our regular e-newsletter will help keep you in touch with Exmoor tourism news. Make sure you don't miss out on news and training that might affect your business.
Dark Skies Festival 2019

Advertising opportunities from £45
This year's Dark Skies Festival will take place from 14th October to 3rd November.

Advertise your tourism/accommodation business in our popular printed Festival programme from just £45. Full details here . Please book your space ASAP.

 for events added so far.

If you'd like to add an event please email KJMunro@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk with details ASAP.
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Dark Skies Networking Event -10th June
Exmoor National Park Authority is holding a Dark Skies Tourism Networking session on 10th June at the White Horse Inn, Exford TA24 7PY.

The session will run from 6pm to 7.30pm and we’ll be providing tea/coffee. (served 5.45 to 6pm)

With some of the darkest skies in the country, we’re very proud of our designation as International Dark Sky Reserve. We also recognise that ‘tranquillity, peace and quiet’ is the number 2 Attractor (after scenery and landscape) in the top 5 Attractors cited by visitors to Exmoor.

Perhaps you already have an interest/experience in or involvement with dark skies or dark skies tourism or you have some ideas on how we can work together to make the most of the opportunity presented by our dark skies and tranquillity.
What possibilities are there that can be reasonably explored by the whole National Park or smaller communities within the Park that will add a tangible dark skies offer to visitors?

This is your opportunity to share your ideas, learn from others and be part of new initiative and networking group.
Top tourism award goes to English National Parks
English National Parks received one of the country’s top tourism accolades in recognition of their work to ensure visitors to some of the country’s finest landscapes. In presenting the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ award Dennis Wormwell Chairman of the VisitEngland Advisory Board, said:
“Our research shows that England’s National Parks play a valuable role in our tourism offer to visitors who holiday at home and those from abroad. This award recognises this contribution as well as the hard work the Parks have undertaken collaboratively to create exciting new experiences for tourists.”

Read more here .
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Lorna Doone Celebrations
Many groups and businesses are holding events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first publication of this popular novel.

Find our more about planned events here!

For visitors who want to know more about Lorna Doone send them to the Dulverton Heritage Centre who now have an extensive Lorna Doone exhibition.
credit Lycia Moore Taunton garrison
Photo courtesy of Lycia Moore, Taunton Garrison who are performing at Dulverton on 29th and 30th June.
Are you proud to be serving local Exmoor produce?
If you are a restaurant serving local food, you can gain publicity and raise your profile by helping us to raise funds to help keep Exmoor special through CareMoor - our donations scheme.

We're looking for new CareMoor Dining events from July onwards. If you would you be interested in holding an event please call Katrina on 01398 322236.
eat Exmoor logo


Exmoor Chefs' Recipes for local Newspaper

If you're interested in gaining some free publicity for your venue and your chef and you might like to submit a recipe for a new food section being published in a local newspaper, then please contact Katrina to find out more KJMunro@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk 01398 322236


Business Development Opportunity
Visit Exmoor and Visit Somerset, working with the Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership, are inviting businesses involved in either the food & drink or outdoor leisure sectors to be part of a new project offering business support and training to develop new bookable products. For Exmoor this will build on the English National Park Experience Collection work (see below) with a focus on creating bookable products for independent travelers.
To be eligible you should trade in either Somerset or Exmoor and want to grow your business by, for example, using online sales channels, developing new experiences suitable for visitors, or working more directly with the travel trade. A range of benefits will be available for the finally selected businesses. If you would like to know more or get involved, please contact
htasupport@live-tourism.co.uk before 28 th May 2019.
If you missed the local launch check out the video to learn more about the new Exmoor experiences. You can find further details from the new website.
Inspired to create your own experiences or start working with the travel trade? Check out the handy toolkits available here.
Exmoor Ranger Experience - Now open for bookings June-October!
As part of the English National Park Experience Collection, we have developed our own Ranger Experiences, this year sppnsored by Williton based 'Exmoor Trim'. There are just 10 bookable dates from June -October. We can also offer exclusive experiences.
Find out more or book visit here. Fliers are also now available from our National park Centres.
Coastal tourism promotion
Exmoor is set to benefit from a further Discover England Fund project promoting the English coast.

England’s Coast, www.englandscoast.com , is an exciting new marketing and booking tool designed to boost the number of international visitors to the English coast, specifically German, Dutch and French visitors.

The website includes stunning new interactive videos that showcase the very best of the coast. Interactive video technology allows holidaymakers to create their own itineraries and book direct with coastal businesses via an itinerary builder, but the scope of the project also targets the travel trade through independent and group itineraries.
Exmoor will now be included on the site and you can list your coastal business (accommodation within 5 miles of the coast or attractions within 15 miles) on the site for free. Explore for yourself at www.englandscoast.com or to find out more about how to list a coastal business, visit https://englandscoast.com/create-listing .
Who's who - meet the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Economy Team

Sustainable Economy Manager
Mon - Fri


Funding Officer
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri.

Economy Project Officer
Mon - Thurs
Visit Exmoor
Development Manager
Employed by Visit Exmoor, Jennette spends approx 2 days a week working from the ENPA offices in Dulverton (Mon & Wed).