A ground-breaking event dedicated to encouraging eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry saw 120 local businesspeople come together at the Falcon Hotel in Bude last week to participate in a resounding display of commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable tourism.
The event aimed to educate and inspire local businesses about the significance of adopting sustainable practices within the tourism sector, which is the major driver for the whole wider Bude area economy.
Branded The Bude Way, the Sustainable Tourism Project is one of Bude Climate Partnership’s six core programmes and is being delivered by its partner, Bude Area Tourist Board (BATB). The Bude Way offers businesses access to free toolkits and resources to help them take the first steps towards a more sustainable future, free training opportunities, free carbon efficiency advice and free networking events for sharing knowledge and best practice.
Participants included a diverse array of establishments, ranging from hotels and restaurants to beauty salons and adventure sports providers.
Local business owners were particularly encouraged by the event’s focus on collaboration and many recognised the importance of working together to reduce environmental impacts and enhance the visitor experience.
Chair of BATB, Linda Winstanley, commented: “We were delighted with the turnout – especially on such a blustery evening. It showed the real appetite from local tourism business owners to learn how they can become more resilient to climate change.
“We look forward to taking this exciting project forward and working with businesses to drive our area’s approach to sustainable tourism. We would encourage any tourism business to come along to the Tourist Information Centre to see how we can help!”
To find out more about The Bude Way, the Bude area’s Sustainable Tourism Project, contact Millie Smith-Heaven, Sustainable Tourism Manager, at [email protected]