News Release : 23 April 2004

SOUTH EAST TOURISM STRATEGY SETS NATIONAL BENCHMARK

A GOVERNMENT APPOINTED PANEL HAS ENDORSED THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY’S proposal for strengthening tourism in the South East and recognises it as a national benchmark.

The Panel examined the Assembly’s Regional Spatial Strategy for Tourism and praised it as the first to give detailed spatial guidance on coastal resorts, tourism attractions, accommodation, regionally significant sports facilities and visitor management. Panel members also welcomed suggested changes to existing Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9).

The Panel recommends that Government:

• Recognises the Regional Spatial Strategy for Tourism for the South East as a benchmark for other regions;
• Implements the Assembly’s approach on urban renaissance, coastal and countryside management to ensure that tourism-related issues are addressed;
• Identifies sub-regional priorities for tourism and related activities for specific parts of the region where they could play an important role in future developments – for example the coast, Isle of Wight, Windsor, Oxford, River Thames and the growth areas of Ashford, Milton Keynes and Thames Gateway.

Councillor Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly’s Planning Committee said: “We strongly support the Panel’s recommendations which endorse the overall aims and objectives of the Regional Spatial Strategy for Tourism. We are particularly pleased that the Strategy is recognised as a benchmark for other regions.”

Next steps
The Panel will now submit a report to the Secretary of State, who will publish his own modifications to the document. The Assembly is expecting the Government’s report during summer 2004. Following the Panel’s positive response, the Assembly’s approach to tourism will now feed into development of the South East Plan, a 20-year planning vision for the region.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Panel report is available on the Government Office for the South East website
2. Tourism and Related Sport and Recreation - Regional Spatial Planning Strategy for Tourism (Proposed Alterations to Regional Planning Guidance - Tourism and Related Sport and Recreation) is in the Publications section.
3. The South East Plan will be a document setting regional priorities and guiding the production of local plans and strategies on critical issues affecting all of us, such as housing, transport, waste and development. It will also help share best practice between different areas of the region that face similar problems and cover the period to 2026.
4. The Plan will impact on the whole South East, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
5. The Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
6. The Regional Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
7. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007