2012 Opportunities
An Opportunity for Kent Tourism
On 6 July 2005, the United Kingdom won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, having shown how London will offer a world-class stage to the world's greatest athletes.
Between 50 and 70% of the net economic benefit for staging the Games measured over a 7- 10 year period will accrue through tourism, with early estimates suggesting this might generate around £2 billion for the international visitor economy of Britain. Almost two-thirds of this growth will occur in the four years after the Games. Focusing on what will be needed to achieve this growth within Kent , as well as a focus on getting the welcome offer right, are therefore the critical factors to delivering this tourism legacy with this county.
The inital torch route has been announced with two overnight stops in Kent at Dover and Maidstone and Kent is also a paralympic venue hosting with the cycling road races at Brands Hatch.
Is your business ready for 2012?
With the 2012 Olympic Games coming to the UK, Kent businesses have the perfect opportunity to benefit from this. Kent Sport Leisure and Olympics Service has produced a guide to the issues that businesses should consider in their planning. To access this guide and more information click here.
Olympic Travel Information
A new website has been launched to provide advice to both businesses and the public on the impact the Olympics will have on transport infrastructure and public transport systems. The information applies to all Olympic venues across the UK and there is a special section that provides advice for businesses on the types of issues that they should be considering in the way of staffing and deliveries to avoid any unnecessary disruption. The site is linked below.
For the London section there are handy tube and road maps which give a day to day prediction of congestion points related to the events that are being staged.
New 2012 Tourism Toolkit
Visit Kent has produced a new 2012 Tourism Toolkit to help businesses looking to prepare for next year. It offers practical advice on how to keep informed during the run-up to the Games, how to maximise media coverage, and even details other events that are happening in 2012. To get your business ready, read our 2012 Tourism Toolkit.
The official source of information on the 2012 Games for the UK's tourism industry is the Visit Britain website www.tourism2102games.org. Sign up to the newsletter for regular updates.
To find out how you can support the London Olympics without breaching brand protection read A Practical Guide to Referring to the Games.
Fair Pricing and Practice Charter
2012 will be a wonderful year for Kent and it's important that we allow visitors, travel intermediaries and media to readily identify UK tourism producers and suppliers that have made a firm commitment to reasonable and fair trading terms during the year 2012. In partnership with Visit Britain, Visit Kent has produced a nationwide fair pricing and practice charter that businesses are encouraged to sign up to for 2012. In addition, Visit Kent has produced its own charter that will be used and promoted during other major events in the county, such as The Open golf championship. Read more about the charters and sign up now.
Other Kent 2012 Initiatives
Kent Greeters
Where local volunteers welcome visitors to the County and share their passion for where they live. To find out more visit www.kentgreeters.co.uk
Kent Cultural Baton
The Kent Cultural Baton is the only one of its kind in the UK, and will travel throughout the county visiting festivals, organisations, individuals, schools and businesses in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each host of the baton will embody one of the 21 different representations of ‘culture’ and ‘creativity’, from the worlds of art, science and heritage, to street theatre, music and the environment. If you are interested in hosting the Cultural Baton contact art@kent.gov.uk
Kent Event team
The Kent eVent Team is a partnership between Kent County Council and the voluntary sector in Kent, aimed at recruiting volunteers for events and one-off sport, leisure and cultural activities across the county, including the build up to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London. Anyone organising an event in the voluntary, community or statutory sector in Kent (any event that is not for profit) is able to register and make a request for volunteers, as long as the event meets the basic requirements, for example in health and safety. For further information http://www.kenteventteam.org.uk
Useful Websites
Department of Culture, Media & Sport