Jim Parker: The way to boost our economy has been 'staring us in the face'

The value of events from so many different angles for the Bay and its economy is crystal clear.

Making the most of what we have staring us in the face every moment of the day is absolutely essential when we look to come up with new events to boost business. By the way, it also costs nothing.

Our Naturally Inspiring environment is just that. We have more than 20 miles of some of the best beaches anywhere, a UNESCO Geopark rating with millions of years of history to it and Dartmoor is 30 or so minutes away.

How blooming lucky are we? Only now are we recognising what we have naturally and what we take for granted and for which others would give their right arm.

The English Riviera BID company can see the benefits. It  is now supporting more and more events.

One horse they backed was Brendon Prince, the Torquay-based world record paddle board holder and Above Water sea safety champion whose dream to put the Bay on the world water sporting map was realised this week.   

It was announced that the English Riviera has landed the Paddleboard World Cup in the summer of 2026.

The event next June is expected to attract around 200 of the world’s best athletes, as well as up to 1,000 other paddlers who will take part in a festival of paddling that will showcase the breadth of SUP from recreational paddlers to elite competition - firmly putting the English Riviera on the world stage.

Brendon Prince has played a huge part in attracting the event to our shores with presentations, negotiations and sheer passion behind the scenes.

Brendon says: “The announcement that the ICF SUP World Cup is coming to the English Riviera is a momentous achievement, not just for stand-up paddleboarding but for the entire region. This event is not simply about hosting an elite sporting competition; it represents a watershed moment in the evolution of the English Riviera as a global leader in experience-based tourism and the blue economy.”

More on that blue economy and Brendon next week.

The World Cup and events in general were given special billing by ERBID CEO Carolyn Custerson when she was the guest speaker at the latest Torbay Business Forum breakfast.

They are crucial for the tourism industry to survive and thrive.

Carolyn revealed aspirations to return visitor numbers to pre-Covid levels had not happened with forecasts that they could be down between 15 per cent and 19 per cent.

“Cities where there is more funding have revived but coastal resorts have not, “ said Carolyn.

But she said figures were looking better for October and November. “The position is slightly improving and the season is being extended. We are in a good position to fight back.”

Last minute and micro breaks were becoming more and more the norm and Carolyn revealed that more couples were now holidaying in Devon than families. 

Overseas holidays are still a challenge with Bristol Airport now being viewed as a ‘destination for sun’ said Carolyn.

A crypto water bug alert in Brixham and all the over-the-top headlines didn’t help with an estimated £80m worth of business being lost.

Carolyn said tourism businesses have had to cope with a variety of challenges including National Insurance contributions, minimum wage levels and increased energy bills as well as increased regulations.

Carolyn said: “There is always a curve ball coming at you. People are changing the way they operate but the increased costs have been painful. Some people are reducing opening hours for their businesses. It is coming at us from all directions and there is very little room for financial investment with people nervous and holding back.”

And she added: “A Tourism Tax is coming down the track.”

She outlined the importance of having a Business Improvement District to champion, market, promote and sell the Bay’s tourism and hospitality sectors. She said one advantage was that a BID has a five year ‘life’ and is not governed by annual council budgets.

One ‘good’  thing to come from Crypto was a £1.2m compensation settlement from South West Water which has partly been used for an eye-catching TV ad campaign.

Carolyn said: “We are going excited with the new campaign. The ad has already been seen 2million times and will run for six months.

Despite the Midlands target area, she revealed that 82 per cent of footfall to the Bay was from people within a two hour drive.

Overseas visitors were being attracted by Agatha Christie, cruise ship visits are planned and there will be a focus on business tourism like conferences, said Carolyn.

Going full circle, Carolyn said the BID Company was investing in events, like the Torbay Airshow and Brendon’s world paddle board event.

Last but not least, she said there would be further investment in the Bay of Lights Christmas trail this year - the trail attracted an extra 350,000 visitors last year.

Light at the end of the tunnel for us all!