Project to promote Newquay as a winter destination gets investment from Shared Prosperity Fund

A project to promote sustainable year-round tourism in Newquay has been granted £365,426 from the Shared Prosperity Fund, and match funded by Cornwall Council’s Town Centre Revitalisation Fund, after a similar successful pilot project in West Cornwall. 

Experience Newquay aims to extend the tourist season and encourage people to experience the town's distinct character and culture during the winter months.  The peak visitor months of April to September currently account for 67% of visitors and by extending the tourism season, the project aims to help businesses stay open year-round and provide more permanent employment opportunities. 

The funding will be used to support the local creative, leisure and heritage sectors by developing activities and experiences that reflect the unique and authentic assets of the local area, to encourage more people to come and enjoy what is on offer in the winter months. A free business training programme will be designed to meet the specific needs of the local business community, with a focus on collaboration and how businesses can develop experiential and sustainably viable offers to appeal to visitors in the low season.

A launch event is planned for Autumn 2023 where local businesses can meet the project team and hear about the future plans. A skills survey will follow, and the training programme will be based on these results and tailored to the specific requirements locally.  

Longer term, there will be opportunity for local businesses to get involved with the project’s low season marketing campaign. 

To stay up-to-date, businesses should sign up to the Experience Newquay Business newsletter, where all the free future opportunities will be shared as the project progresses.   

Working with key local stakeholders, the project will make improvements to the town centre, which could include interpretation and art installations. With the help of local creatives and artists, a community engagement programme will offer opportunities to get involved. The specific location will be confirmed following engagement with key stakeholders who will help shape the focus of the investment.  

Local residents are being encouraged to follow and subscribe to the Experience Newquay Let’s Talk page to stay up to date with the project’s progress.  

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy and Divisional Member for Newquay Central & Pentire, said: “Following on from the success of the Experience project in West Cornwall, we are able to continue to build on the approach and promote Cornwall as a year round destination. It is a great opportunity to collaborate with the local community in Newquay whilst linking to the amazing work already happening in the town. Bringing the business community together and helping to promote Newquay’s cultural uniqueness to help drive footfall and visitor numbers from October to March is another hugely beneficial investment to the town.” 

This project has received £365,426 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth’s “Town, Rural and Coastal High Street Development and Skills Programme”. The aim of this funding opportunity is to support local businesses through increasing visitor numbers to town centres and neighbourhood shopping areas. 

Visit the Good Growth website for more information about how the Shared Prosperity Fund is being delivered and to see how projects are using the funding to make a difference www.ciosgoodgrowth.com