26.01.04
Farm tourism must get to grips with technology or risk being left behind - new workshops launched to put farm tourism on the e-map
Farmers' traditional love:hate relationship with computers
is being addressed head on by a leading rural tourism company, Objective
One gateway project Cartwheel, through a brand new series of workshops
– "Cutting Edge courses for rural tourism."
According to Cartwheel, more than 60% of all new business
now comes via the web, which means farm tourism enterprises which want
to prosper need to understand better how customers find them and what
information they're looking for from a website.
The workshops have been developed specifically for people
involved in marketing rural and farm tourism enterprises and, as such,
are the first of their kind in the region. They are being launched by
Cartwheel in direct response to the growing number of queries from its
members about using websites and the internet for marketing.
"Farmers are realising that they've got to get to grips
with technology or risk being left behind," says Gina Woodcraft, chief
executive of Exeter-based Cartwheel Rural Tourism. "Tourism is such a
competitive arena that investing in a lovely barn conversion or having
stunning scenery just isn't enough to guarantee success anymore. A good
internet presence and knowing how to use it are now essential marketing
tools, which is where these workshops come in. We know our audience, so
the workshops will be pitched at just the right level to ensure they're
practical and user-friendly, and everyone leaves feeling positive and
more confident."
The series is kicking off in Cornwall in February with
two topics:
Thursday, 5 February - 'Your website – getting
it right for your business'
|
Finding customers; website content; working with a designer; looking
professional; going 'live' |
|
Lanhydrock Golf Club, 10.30am – 3.30pm including refreshments
and lunch for £58.75 (maximum 10 places) |
Thursday, 19 February - "Online marketing and search
engine optimisation"
|
Strategies for search engine positioning; reviewing website performance;
email newsletters |
|
Lanhydrock Golf Club, 10.30am – 3.30pm including refreshments
and lunch for £58.75 (maximum 10 places) |
IT adviser Bill Wells will be leading these initial workshops,
which are open to rural tourism businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of
Scilly with an agricultural holding number. Cartwheel is hoping to announce
details of further dates in both Cornwall and Devon in due course.
As well as promoting more than 200 rural businesses offering
farm accommodation, attractions and activities, Cartwheel is the leading
business support agency for the South West's rural tourism sector with
expertise in business development, marketing and farm diversification.
The company has developed the new 'Cutting Edge' courses as part of its
mission to support and promote farm tourism enterprises.
For more information or to book a place on one of
the 'Cutting Edge' courses phone Cartwheel on 01392 877842 or email info@cartwheel.org.uk.
Editor's notes:
European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF)
ERDF is one of our four funds that make up the Objective
One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which
is making £314 million of investment available for developing
the local economy between 2000 and 2006.
ERDF exists to:
|
Help reduce the gap between development levels and
living standards among the regions and the extent to which
least-favoured regions are lagging behind. |
|
Help redress the main regional imbalances in the European
Community by participating in the development and structural
adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind,
and the social conversion of regions. |
The IAP is the local delivery mechanism for European Objective
One investment in the Carrick district and is responsible
for working closely with the private, public and voluntary
sector to develop successful projects which will regenerate
the local area. The team offers advice and guidance on whether
projects are eligible for Objective One investment; assists
with the preparation of business plans and guides applicants
through the Objective One investment process.
Carrick IAP Team
Carrick's IAP Team is invested in by Objective One, the South
West of England Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County
Council and Carrick District Council. The team are employed
and managed by Rural Economic Partnership Ltd which is a subsidiary
of Cornwall Enterprise, a local authority company controlled
by Cornwall County Council.
For further information contact:
Carol Kimberley
Truro Early Excellence Centre
01872 274693
George Collinge
Carrick IAP Team
01872 224428
Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk
 back to top
|
