Destination Dorset – no more meetings…

Early in the week I attended a Board meeting of Destination Dorset and the only item on the Agenda was to decide whether the public/private organistion could continue. The decision was taken to let the organisation ‘sleep’ until an opportunity requiring a public/private tourism partnership or DMO is identified and agreed.

For the last 4 years we have been trying to find a way forward to create a single voice for Dorset tourism to make it easier for visitors to the area and for the trade – however, with the differences between the local authorities and the lack of co-ordination the private sector the necessary leadership could not be found.

The local authories will continue offering advertising packages to tourism busineses in their respective district council areas and working in partnership with each other for the benefit of Dorset where appropriate – one of the main benefits being www.visit-dorset.com

I am disappointed with the decision but I am happy and relieved that it has been taken. We were wasting so much time and it may now be possible for individuals invovled in tourism in the private sector to have time to look at other ways to promote and expand the visitor economy which is so important to Dorset.