£42,000 fund to boost business and tourism (From Salisbury Journal)

£42,000 fund to boost business and tourism

3:20pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Business By Hannah White

A NUMBER of schemes to promote tourism and local businesses in Mere, Tisbury and Wilton are under way thanks to a cash boost from Wiltshire Council.

The South West Wiltshire Area Board approved funding of £42,000 towards the scheme at a meeting in Mere on Wednesday.

Mere & District Chamber of Trade, Tisbury Business Association and Wilton & District Business Chamber have each received £14,000 to deliver a series of projects over the next two years.

The business organisations aim to expand their membership to support economic development and employment, with the aim of being self-supporting for the future.

Projects for each organisation vary but all three aim to promote business as well as the historical and natural attributes of south west Wiltshire.

In Mere, there are plans to work more closely with the National Trust’s Stourhead Gardens, which attract more than 300,000 tourists per year, and with local artists for an annual art project.

Tisbury Business Association is aiming to establish a tourist information point in association with the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and to assess interest in a food festival for the village.

The money will also fund a Backing Tisbury campaign, to encourage residents to make full use of local businesses.

Plans for Wilton include a business expo and a business and community awards ceremony.

The area board also allocated £4,800 to fund expenses for an unpaid intern to work alongside the AONB on its sustainable rural tourism pilot.