Although the first year of the Natural East Kent tourism project has ended, the development of an online interactive communication and discussion forum for tourism businesses in NEK and the Kent Downs will continue. The forum will consist of:
- Email discussion forum: a facility for members to post and ask for advice and information, share ideas and best practice.
- Green Directory: an information page providing details of and links to local sustainable products and services.
- Kent Downs' and NEK culture pages: provide information on and links to examples of traditions, stories and legends specific to the Kent Downs and NEK. Forum members will be invited to provide such information.
- Events & Announcements page: for communities and rural tourism businesses to highlight events and activities.
- Facts & figures page: did you know - links to research, feasibility studies, case studies and examples of best practice.
- Members' directory: information on members of the network.
Within the forum we will provide an advisory directory for rural tourism businesses. This will entail establishing a directory of consultants, services and information providers that can also be referred to tourism businesses upon request, covering subjects such as:
- New business start ups and farm/business diversification
- Developing a business strategy/business plan/marketing plan
- Renewable energy technologies
- Water efficiency
- Waste management
- Recycling
- Regulations applicable to tourism businesses - quality grading schemes, DDA, food regulations, health & safety
- IT information and advice - web creation and promotion, e-marketing, e-business
- Local produce - business training on sourcing and using local produce
You will see that we intend to provide access to a lot of useful information within the forum - this will take time to source, verify and upload, so bear with us - it will be added on an ongoing basis.
You will be notified of the launch of the forum in due course.
