As part of the Sustainable Tourism Project in the South East's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), a small range of courses to help business development has been organised for hospitality businesses in the region.

1. AONB Awareness Day - available to any hospitality business located in or on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the half day course is in two parts. The first part is designed to raise awareness amongst tourism businesses about:
 The distinctiveness of the local landscape
 The added value to their business
 The need to maintain and manage the landscape and the measures they can adopt (including other training modules in a broader sustainable tourism programme) to help that process
 The role of business in the prosperity and character of the rural community

The second part introduces the delegates to an AONB Visitor Information Pack which is available to delegates on the course and instructs them in how to use it to best advantage. The Pack has three functions:
 To provide an added value service to their customers
 To provide relevant, interesting, well presented information on conservation issues, landscape character, local history, and sustainable leisure options for the customer
 To be the main vehicle to carry the message about the quality and local distinctiveness of the AONB area to both the industry and the customer.
Dates:- 24th March- Kent Downs AONB Awareness, Shoreham Village Hall, Kent

2. Sourcing, Preparing and Serving Local Produce - available to all hospitality businesses that serve food. This one day course aims to raise awareness amongst the industry about:
 access to and availability of local produce
 how to prepare local produce
 how to use local produce as a marketing tool and the added value to their business
 the social and environmental advantages of using local produce.
Dates:- 1st April- Hollingbourne Village Hall, Kent, 20th April- Battle Abbey, East Sussex

3. Walkers and Cyclists Welcome - part of the national stable of "Welcome" courses the one day course is aimed at helping businesses capitalise on the growing popularity of walking and cycling. The largest market is for holiday makers who want simple recreation opportunities close at hand. This event will help businesses understand:
 the different segments that make up the walking marketing
 how to attract and cater for the enthusiast as well as the casual walker
 how to make the most of the extensive network of footpaths and bridleways that cover the rural south-east.
Dates:- 8th March- Lyminge Village Hall, Kent
28th April- Harrietsham Village Hall, Kent
29th April- Netherfield Centre, nr Battle, East Sussex

Contact Tristan Lavender, SE AONB Sustainable Tourism Project Tel: 01892 500326 e-mail: tlavender@tourismse.com

17-02-2004

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