Tourism industry steps up bid to cut water usage
The tourism industry has joined forces with three of the South East's water companies in a bid to tackle the threat posed to the sector by water shortages.
A campaign ran throughout the summer to encourage holidaymakers to use less water, specifically targeting the areas at greatest threat: East Sussex, Kent, West Sussex and Surrey.
Tourism South East is driving the bid to conserve water use, initially targeting visitors to all types of accommodation, from bed and breakfasts to hotels and camping and caravan sites. Water shortages - and the threat of restrictions on water use - are seen as a major issue for the region's £10 billion+ tourism economy.
The campaign will move on to a second stage with plans to consider how to best reduce the industry's own usage, including by restaurants, visitor attractions and accommodation providers.
Nick Head, owner of The Ambassador Hotel in Brighton, was instrumental in first addressing the issue via the Brighton and Hove Hotels Association. He said: "It was a clear concern in Brighton and East Sussex back in the spring that tourism businesses would be drastically hit if serious restrictions were imposed. We had to reduce water usage, internally and by guests."
The Association launched an initiative to contact and influence local water companies. Tourism South East subsequently extended the campaign, contacting the three major water companies in the worse affected areas - Southern Water, Mid Kent Water and South East Water - to highlight the potential effect on the region's powerhouse tourism industry.
The three water companies have funded a series of stickers and display cards, produced by Tourism South East and available free of charge for use by all tourism businesses in the key areas, to encourage visitors to conserve water usage.
Les Dawson, Chief Executive of Southern Water and Chairman of the Joint Working Group said: "We take a responsible and long-term approach to encouraging appropriate water use. Clearly tourism businesses bring billions of pounds into the region's economy each year and it's vital that tourists are not deterred from continuing to visit the South East.
"Tourism South East is clearly keen to ensure both visitors and the industry are encouraged to reduce unnecessary water use. We were delighted to form an effective partnership with them to make an immediate impact."
Nick Head said: "Feedback from our guests has been highly positive and suggests they are genuinely concerned to conserve water use. There is an opportunity for the entire industry to make a real difference, both environmentally, and in cutting operating costs."
Water reduction stickers and promotional cards are available free of charge to tourism businesses via a number of Tourist Information Centres in the region and directly from Tourism South East. Further information is available by clicking here
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Media contact:
David Rose at TSE on 023 8062 5464 or 07843 270554
Email: drose@tourismse.com
Note to Editors: Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and
West Sussex