Boating Project


	Developing Sustainable Tourism through Improved Quality within The Broads		The Broads Authority

		Pictures: Broads Authority

This project is made up of a number of initiatives aimed at helping Broads' tourism businesses to become more sustainable. There will be an innovative mixture of awareness-raising, training workshops, one-to-one business visits, awards schemes and small financial incentives for improvements. This is a year-long pilot project and the success of the approaches adopted will determine the potential for a further three-years.The project focuses on three core areas:
Quality The project will include workshops and one to one visits that will provide advice and increase awareness of opportunities for business development. It will also involve initiatives to develop, improve, promote and recognise quality across the tourism sector. This will be achieved through the provision of seminars and on-site visits, together with an incentive package to encourage all boat yards to have their boats inspected and quality assured. New Quality Awards will also be launched to encourage enthusiasm for success and to offer recognition of those tourist businesses that make a special contribution towards the success of the Broads National Park. Awards will be made for excellence in the three areas of quality, environmental and disability awareness.
Environmental Sustainability The project will also promote environmental appraisal and action by both shore-based and boat-hire businesses. Small grants will encourage businesses to take practical steps to become more environmentally sustainable. Shore-based businesses will be helped to increase recycling, to reduce unnecessary packaging and to increase the amount of local purchasing. Boating businesses will be encouraged to reduce incidence of anti-foul pollution and to adopt the use of regulators to reduce emissions. There will be a programme targeted at the need to reduce noise produced by hire boats on the Broads. Small grants will encourage owners to fit revised exhaust arrangements using kits available from a local supplier.
Access For All The aim is to make the Broads a centre of excellence for people with disabilities. Specialist business seminars will be followed up with incentives to implement on-site improvements to businesses. These could include participation in the national accommodation disability inspection scheme, independent on-site access audits, or the completion of minor works.
Aims The project has identified specific benefits that will contribute towards the Broads & Rivers' objective of increasing local economic and environmental benefits from tourism. These include: 200 tourism businesses helped to become more environmentally sustainable through the production of individual 'development action plans'. A pioneering quality assurance scheme in pubs and restaurants, with the inspection and promotion of 120 food outlets. New award schemes for "eco-labelling" and accessibility. Improved access for all, with 30 tourism businesses making practical improvements. Environmental improvements carried out by 15 hire boat operators and 15 on-shore tourism providers. Modifications to 150 boats to lower noise pollution on the Broads. Grant awarded LEADER+ awarded £59,600 towards a total project value of around £209,000.