06.06.03
Riding the crest of a tourism wave

Students studying Leisure and Tourism GCSE at Fowey Community School will have the chance to experience life on board a luxury cruise ship for themselves on Thursday, June 12th when they are invited to visit the Royal Princess which will be moored at Falmouth Docks.

The students are working on an assignment called ‘Riding the Crest of a Tourism Wave’ developed by Fowey teacher Sammy Smith in partnership with Bob Harrison from ‘Destination Southwest’ and the Cornwall Education Business Partnership.

Cornwall Education Business Partnership is supporting the project through the Objective One, ESF funded project ‘BEEI’ (Business Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Innovation) which promotes business enterprise, innovation and creativity in education.

As part of their work for their GCSE, the pupils have been investigating the growing opportunities for local businesses from the increasing number of cruise ships visiting south west ports.

Bob Harrison, Director of Cruise Operations, from Destination Southwest has been working with the students to help them develop a marketing campaign aimed at attracting cruise visitors to Cornwall. They have explored the ways that cruise companies promote themselves to overseas markets and awareness of local businesses of the services they can offer to cruise visitors.

He has also organised the visit to the Royal Princess cruise ship. “The number of cruise ships has risen by 40% following the initiation of Destination Southwest which involves ports, visitor attractions and local councils around the coasts of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and South Devon.

“It is a huge opportunity for local traders, attractions and guides to benefit from increased sales to the visiting cruise ships passengers and crew. The more that students can discover about the career opportunities within their vocational subject, the better equipped our future workforce will be to face the challenges ahead,” he added.

“By linking students with the business community we are not only raising the students’ awareness of opportunities after education, but also helping to ensure that local business and skills needs are reflected in the classroom,” said Paul Crossley, from Cornwall Education Business Partnership.

Sammy Smith, who teaches Leisure and Tourism at Fowey Community College, said: “This is an outstanding opportunity for our students to visit a luxury cruise ship moored in Falmouth, and see at first hand how the increasing numbers of overseas visitors to Cornwall are creating many diverse and rewarding opportunities for business enterprise and employment in their local area. They will be doing valuable work for their GCSE studies using first hand knowledge from people working within the tourism industry.”

Paul Wright from the tourism department of Restormel Borough Council also visited the school to talk to the students.

Editor's notes:

You are invited to cover the visit by Fowey Community College students to the Royal Princess cruise ship at 10 am on Thursday June 12th. She is berthed at Falmouth docks.

For further information please contact:

Paul Crossley
Cornwall Education Business Partnership
Telephone: 01872 323420
Mobile: 07966 892209
E-mail: pcrossley@cornwall.gov.uk

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk

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