Gloomy Predictions from South West Tourism

I'm disappointed that we are allowing negative publicity to rule our industry again.

To quote from the BBC website:

A stern warning has been issued about the future of tourism in the West.

In a new booklet, Malcolm Bell, Director of South West Tourism, says optimism the 2009 summer will be a bumper year may be misplaced. Assumptions a good Sterling/Euro exchange rate would favour the region may not materialise, he said.

Mr Bell predicts rising unemployment and ongoing economic uncertainty could see visitor numbers drop between three and eight per cent.

He said: "Even if we do get reasonable numbers of displaced visitors, they may just replace losses from loyal customers who cannot visit due to reduced incomes from savings, or lower earnings because they have lost their jobs."

South West Tourism covers Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth and Poole, Cornwall and Scilly Isles, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.


Surely it would be better to promote the benefits of the South West's undoubted excellent tourist facilities rather than hint that it will be a bad summer. We are so media driven these days that any bad news means we instantly assume the worst.

Come on South West Tourism, promote us all and be positive! I'm all for being realistic but let's see what happens.

To help make the most of your business in these tricky times see www.copperphoenix.co.uk

BBC to Film at Jenner Museum

BBC Points West will film the dig by the University of Bristol and the Saxon Nunnery they've found in the Museum's garden on Friday 12th June.

Hpefully this will further increase the awareness of the Museum in Berkeley so we can continue with the necessary fundraising to prevent its closure.

Copper Phoenix is applying for restoration grants but the Museum will need more assistance from the general public too.

Watch this space.

Half a William the Conqueror coin

Half a William the Conqueror coin
Originally uploaded by TMR Davies

From the dig at Berkeley in the garden of The Edward Jenner Museum. Half a coin from 1067, cut in half for payment before lower denomination copins were "invented"

Copper Phoenix

I have left Berkeley Castle and now set up my own heritage marketing company called Copper Phoenix. You can have a look at the site http://www.copperphoenix.co.uk

Many attractions and museums are not pushing their businesses hard enough during this recession when they should be promoting them even more. That's where Copper Phoenix can make a big difference, increasing revenue and visitor numbers.