Overtourism – a new term which is being increasingly used

The term Overtourism or Over-tourism was coined in 2012 but hit the headlines in 2017 when there was a backlash from residents in cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik. Has the balance tipped between travel industry growth and destinations…

Tourism overcrowding: two destination experiences

Travel Mole announced in an article Santorini closes its gates, caps visitor numbers as: Dubrovnik wonders if it’s been killed by tourism (Sept 4 2018) Not only is the population in Santorini rapidly rising, as more and more people are…

Improved engagement with local communities is the way ahead for heritage and cultural attractions

Recognising the pressures put on public sector budgets  museums, heritage and cultural attractions are particularly vulnerable to cuts. In my view such attractions need to engage more fully with their communities, be more customer focused and prove their worth. Rural…

A changing look for traditional classical music is to be welcomed

  I was interested to read Bob Riley’s thoughts on how some classical orchestras such as  Manchester Camerata are looking for exciting new ways to engage  with audiences. My work at National Children’s Orchestras of GB in 2013 and at…

Should museums take branding more seriously?

Museums are often named after the town or county in which they are located. This is especially true of publicly-owned museums but are they missing a trick? Some of our larger institutions do take branding very seriously. When I was…

Venice ordered to lift ban on cruise ships

  In an earlier blog I looked at the threat of cruise tourism to a unique cultural city, Venice. We saw how the increase in cruise ships is destroying this beautiful city. However the politicians did listen and the Italian government…

Attracting young audiences to the Arts using Tumblr

In the Arts world attracting teenagers and young adults can be an extremely difficult strategy to fulfill. Many organisations including museums and  art galleries are beginning to use tumblr social network to spread the word. Although only a year younger…

Where will tomorrow’s tourists come from?

We are told that Britain will not see a healthy thriving economy for at least 10 years so where is Visit Britain looking for future growth markets? The BRIC markets, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China are seen as providing…

Foodie Trails help to increase visitors and promote the destination

Having just coordinated the launch of a regional food tourism event encouraging hotels guest houses and other tourism businesses to buy local produce, I realise that hotels and guest houses are missing a trick. Wouldn’t it be good for visitors…

What should a library look like in 2013 – Answer: Open

Interesting article in the Guardian discussing what a library should offer especially with the threat of public sector funding cuts. Having been involved in the launch of Cardiff Central Library, an award winning contemporary five storey building providing not just…