Challenge

• North EastEngland was selected as the pilot region for VisitEngland’s first Destination Development Partnership (DDP). The NE DDP aims to double event and tourism’s economic impact by 2034, achieve net-zero carbon emissions, and enhance the region’s social, cultural, and environmental fabric. This required a coordinated approach across partners to co-create a framework guiding strategy development, supporting regenerative management, and promoting collaboration.

The Solution

• The GDS-Movement and NGI (the lead organisation for the DDP) worked with the NEDDP stakeholders to develop a comprehensive Regenerative Tourism Framework. Key deliverables included:
• Benchmarking with the GDS-Index: Evaluating the sustainability performance of Newcastle, Sunderland, and Durham.
• Secondary Research: Reviewing regional strategies and policies, including destination management plans and climate action policies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Conducting workshops and interviews of hundreds of stakeholders from various sectors in various formats.
• Launch and Implementation: Supporting the framework’s future activation and providing communication materials for its promotion.
• Measurement Framework: Development of criteria and indicators for assessing progress

Results
So far, the framework led to:

• Enhanced Collaboration: Improved cooperation among DMOs, authorities, businesses, and community groups.
• Improved Destination Management Plans: Used the Framework to review and improve the Visitor Economy strategies of the NEDDP, Visit Northumberland, Sunderland, Newcastle, and Durham.

Outputs Delivered

• A comprehensive Regenerative Tourism Framework document that provides clear guidelines and criteria for sustainable tourism development along 5 key pathways
• Creation of a Regenerative Visitor Economy Taskforce for enhanced stakeholder engagement, continuous input and support from key interested parties.
• Detailed action plans for integrating sustainability into existing and new Destination Management Plans.
• Communication and launch materials to promote the framework and ensure widespread awareness and adoption.

Dates: September 2023- September 2024