Rural Area Tourism Healthcheck
The Rural Area Tourism Healthcheck (RATH) continues Tourism South East's rural regeneration initiative which commenced with the creation of a community group based tourism guidance tool for Market Towns. This initiative helps rural communities to strengthen their tourism offering thus encouraging people to visit the South East's smaller rural gems, to explore the countryside, and to enhance the provision of a different and meaningful visitor experience.
As with the market towns initiative, the RATH will direct local communities to understand their tourism potential, develop a vision for the future, draw up their own action plan, implement their own projects and participate in their own benefits.
This locally led initiative provides community development, regeneration opportunities and empowerment in areas where they are needed most. Our countryside and rural way of life is changing and tourism offers huge potential as a catalyst for positive change, fresh ideas, new opportunities and a vibrant future.
This is a regional, even national tool, but requires local leading, after all, local people know better than anyone the issues affecting their area and what they want the future to hold.
TSE is currently working with three rural areas to pilot the Rural Area Tourism Healthcheck Guidance:
- Elham, Kent - Contact: Patrick Clarke, Tourism Sub-group Chair of Elham in Business
- Bevern Spring Line Villages, East Sussex - Contact: Tom Hawthorne, Bevern Spring Line Villages Initiative.
- The Hoo Peninsula - Contact: Ed Woollard, Medway District Council
We anticipate the pilot project work to be completed by March 2007 at which point any recommended alterations will be made to the guidance and pilot projects to be included as case studies.
A summary document will be published and available on this website early 2007.