Ghent – Promoting conference tourism

Ghent wants to attract conference organisers again after the corona crisis. The city has seen an increasing number of overnight stays of conference tourists in recent years and aims to revitalise that trend with an additional marketing budget of €140,000. Conferences are an important business for Ghent, with visitors spending money in town and acting as ambassadors for Ghent as an attractive destination after their stay. You can read more here

Contact: Els Uytterhoeven

Ghent – 1.5 million to boost sustainable tourism

Ghent is investing over one and a half million euro in boosting local tourism in a sustainable way. The city assists entrepreneurs in developing a new coronavirus-proof tourist offer. The offer also highlights sustainable aspects of Ghent’s tourist offer, for example, cycling and walking routes will lead visitors to the sub-municipalities, the periphery, the green belt and less frequently visited sites in the city centre. Read more here

Contact: Els Uytterhoeven

Lille Metropole – Health charter to reassure tourists

Lille Metropole attractiveness agency, ‘Hello Lille’ and the Lille Pasteur Institute have developed a health charter to insure the safety of Lille as a tourist destination. The charter has already been signed by 200 major players of the culture and tourism industry. The signatories will display their commitment to the charter through a specific logo placed on their facades and in their communicati­on tools.

This charter is based on 10 key commitments, including compliance with barrier gestures, social distancing, specific cleaning and disinfection of the premises, specific measures in the event of heat waves… Read more and see the signatories (in French) here.

Contact: Christophe Bolot

Cardiff – Visit the city from home

Join The Big Walk in July, book online courses at the Summer School of Cardiff University and order your favourite Sri Lanka dish from The Coconut Tree – all through the ‘From Home’ project by the ‘Visit Cardiff’ team, showcasing the city’s most exciting lockdown activities. Visitors and residents can explore them here 

Contact: Beverley Watson

Edinburgh – The tourism side of recovery

Responsible and sustainable tourism remains a priority on the economic response to the pandemic, key actors and the city council agreed. Actions to tackle priority areas will be established in coordination with stakeholders, while the long-term strategy remains crucial for the local economy. New roundtable with the economic agents to define specific measures in the coming weeks. Read more here

Contact: Karen Lloyd

Bordeaux – Support to businesses

Bordeaux has implemented a range of measures to support the local economy and businesses. These include:

  • Free parking in outdoor car parks.
  • Exemption from terrace tax and taxes levied on the use of public space and advertising.
  • Tourist tax to be paid in instalments, easing the pressure on businesses’ finances, in particular those in the tourist sector.
Continue reading “Bordeaux – Support to businesses”

Ghent – 25 million to overcome the corona crisis

With a package of short- and long-term measures, the city of Ghent is tackling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A budget of 25 million euro is designated to help the most vulnerable people, economy and civil society. A  ‘Relaunch Taskforce’ shall also see how to revive the city after the crisis by, among others, supporting the tourism sector. You can read more here

Contact: Els Uytterhoeven