Over 50 people attended a recent Tourism Forum, inspiring local tourism businesses to become more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
The Visit The Malverns Tourism Forum held by Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) took place on Thursday 18 November at new The Morgan Experience Centre.
The free event took a special focus on how Malvern Hills District Council can help develop the tourism, hospitality, and leisure sector across the district more sustainably.
Guest speakers included Rebecca Hawkins from RHP LTD and Marcus Blake, from Morgan Motor Company who gave an introduction and tour of the renowned car company.
Matthew Barker, Carbon Reduction Project Officer at MHDC, and Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Economic Development at MHDC, also spoke at the event.
At the event, Victoria Carman, Visitor Economy Officer at MHDC and qualified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, launched the new Sustainable Tourism project.
The project includes a Sustainable Tourism Grants Scheme, provided by the council, for tourism businesses operating across the Malvern Hills District. The grants scheme includes benefits such as energy audits, electric car sharing points, low energy hand dryers and funding towards the internationally recognised Green Tourism Business Scheme accreditation.
Malvern Hills District Council will provide 50% match funding for projects which cost a maximum of £5,000 (£2,500 grant). Advice will be given for how to access other grants for projects costing over £5,000.
The project also includes a Green Tourism Toolkit which promotes top tips and new green initiatives for tourism businesses to adopt, and the Green Mark to develop a sustainable tourism business community for The Malverns.
Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Economic Development at MHDC, said: "This forum was a great opportunity for local businesses to network, talk to experts and learn about how to develop their business sustainably. The Sustainable Tourism Project contains some really useful benefits to help adopt greener business practices and we would encourage local businesses in the tourism industry to enquire."
Visit www.visitthemalverns.org/sustainability for more information on the Sustainable Tourism opportunities for businesses across the district.
Pictured: Marcus Blake, from Morgan Motor Company, Victoria Carman, Visitor Economy Officer at MHDC, Matthew Barker, Carbon Reduction Project Officer at MHDC, Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Economic Development at MHDC and Rebecca Hawkins from RHP LTD.
