'Visit Kent', which champions county tourism interests, and Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh (DFH&RM) have entered a partnership which will strengthen tourism services across Shepway.

It covers the provision of marketing and information services as well as customer service training and the development of the inter-active website network.

DFH&RM will continue to work with Folkestone Town Centre Management, sharing office space and services in the Bouverie Square Shopping Centre.

It will also assist and support the organisation and promotion of the Multi-Cultural Festival, Christmas season celebrations and other Folkestone Town Centre Management (FTCM) events, including projects to encourage two-way across-Channel tourism. Town centre manager John Barber continues as a member of the DFH&RM management team.

The new arrangement has been warmly welcomed by DFHRM manager Chris Kirkham.

“It’s a huge vote of confidence by the public authorities which fund our activities – Shepway District Council, Folkestone Town Council, Sandgate Parish Council and Visit Kent - in the way we serve the interests not only of our commercial members but also of the many other businesses and organisations with a stake in Shepway tourism.

“Our closer association with Visit Kent will provide many benefits, not least new opportunities to increase the reach and impact of our activities to promote Folkestone, Hythe and Romney in UK and overseas markets.

“Shepway District Council has become the first district in Kent whose public/commercial tourism agency is a full operating partner of the county organisation”.

Tourism is worth more than £219 million to the local economy and employs 4,300 people, according to a report published earlier this year and covering 2009.

Trips involving overnight stays by UK visitors totalled 392,000, up 5% on figures reported in a 2006 survey; at 50,000, overnight trips by overseas visitors increased by 3%. Day trips measured 3.6 million, a 10% rise.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©