Agenda item

[To note progress in developing Wolverhampton’s Visitor Economy.]

A report was submitted requesting the Panel to note the information regarding Wolverhampton’s Visitor Economy and the City of Wolverhampton Council’s work to support its growth and development.

The Panel had received a report on 6 October 2015 providing an overview of activity to support the development of the visitor economy, this report provided an update on progress over the last year.

Officers highlighted the importance for the Council in considering working in different ways in order to continue to deliver a high quality and diverse visitor economy when savings in the region of £2.6 million had to be made.

Members considered the report and noted the improvement in visitor numbers to the Art Gallery and other major venues from 500,000 in 2003/2004 to 1 million now. Members did however express concern regarding the detail in the information that they were receiving and Officers confirmed that in the past a designated Officer had collated this information but that Officer Post no longer existed. Concerns were also raised as to the lack of information regarding what the private sector was doing and that without this information it was impossible to formulate a coherent visitor strategy. Officers stated that information such as how many hotels were in Wolverhampton was available and that this would be provided to Members after the meeting. Officers stated that the first focus had been to get a good figurative base and that now the job of drilling down into the figures could commence with help from a newly appointed Marketing and Tourism Officer. Officers confirmed that this information would be available for the next meeting of the Panel.

The Panel also considered the fact that Wolverhampton did not appear to have a unique selling point on a level with the Bull Ring in Birmingham or Camden Market or Cheshire Oaks. Officers stated that the City had the largest pop art collection in the country and that the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football team was very well known along with Marstons Brewery. Members considered whether marketing in these areas could be looked at in the future especially given the fact that Wolverhampton was much easier to reach than other nearby Cities and that it was crucial that visitors were encouraged to stay in the City rather than go off to other neighbouring attractions. Officers stated that work was being done in the City to make it more attractive including the Westside Development and the development of the Mander Centre and the refurbishment of the Civic Halls and the Grand Theatre.

The suggestion was made by Members that the Council should also consider areas such as the National Trust and the Canal and River Trust or working with other partner authorities such as Dudley with the Black County Museum.

Officers stated that a website was currently being developed that would, for the first time have all of the attractions the City had to offer in one place, the site would be dedicated to visitors and would be City wide rather than just Council based and would cover areas such as local outdoor Shakespeare events and events in Tettenhall and Northycote. Members considered that this was a good step forward and that the Council needed to use the history of the City to help develop its future in partnership.

Resolved:      (1) That detailed visitor details be provided to the next meeting.

(2) That Officers consider the history of the City when formulating the Strategy for its future.