Visit Kent Ltd

Visit Kent Ltd. was created as the Kent Tourism Alliance in 2002 by KCC, Eurotunnel and 6 founding private sector partners, with the express aim of levering more private/public sector support for marketing Kent as a visitor destination. Visit Kent Ltd. is based in Canterbury.

  • Over the last three years core effort has gone into creating effective and powerful marketing programmes and creating a sustainable business with an investor base of over 70, representing all sectors of the tourism industry.
  • 2007/08 budget £1.35m (£1m spend on marketing).
  • KCC provides £164k of core funding per annum, which levers £1m of public/private sector funding to market Kent.
  • In 2007 KCC voted an additional £200k of funding per annum up to 2010 to support its 2010 Vision. The funding underpins the delivery of an above the line advertising campaign for Kent.
  • KCC also provides seconded staff. KCC’s total contribution is currently in the region of £250K per annum.
  • Visit Kent Ltd has 7.5 FTEs.
  • The Visit Kent Ltd Board has 10 Directors representing the public and private sectors. Amanda Cottrell is the Chair of the Visit Kent Board, Kevin Lynes (KCC Cabinet Member for Regeneration) is a Director and Member of the Company. Brigadier John Meardon (Receiver General, Canterbury Cathedral) is the Chair of the Management Committee.

Some key successes for Visit Kent Ltd:

  • Increased the investor base from 6 to 70 in five years.
  • Viewed as the lead marketing agency for tourism in Kent.
  • Considered as a model for best practice for UK tourism industry.
  • Worked in partnership with KCC to leverage £1.7m European funding for tourism projects in Kent since 2002.
  • Achieved in excess of 100,000 web visits each month.
  • £150k worth of bookings via the Kent wide DMS (24/7 booking website) since March 2007.

  • Launched a £500k advertising campaign in London with rail operator Southeastern.