From single cities like Oxford, to a collection of smaller spaces and places with a shared identity like the Cotswolds, every destination is multifaceted, with all sorts of stakeholders to satisfy. Needless to say, establishing a common purpose and collaborating to achieve it is the key to “offering compelling destinations of distinction". All the components that make a successful destination should be managed in an integrated and long-term way, with a clear focus on the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.
Developing a destination management plan
Great destinations are great places to live and work as well as to visit. If they are well managed, they are more likely to generate `wise growth' in their visitor economy, maximising the benefits of that growth in long term, additional income and jobs. The best-managed destinations can also attract new investment, keep value-added jobs, bring in new talent and stimulate innovation. maximising the benefits of that growth in long term, additional income and jobs. The best-managed destinations can also attract new investment, keep value-added jobs, bring in new talent and stimulate innovation.
Because every destination has different challenges, opportunities and stakeholders to work with, there can be no one size fits all for destination management. Creating a strategic vision and joint plan, or Destination Management Plan (DMP), can help unite organisations, acting as a shared statement of intent to manage, develop and promote a destination over a specific period of time. A DMP identifies the roles of the different stakeholders, sets out clear actions and allocates resources.
Find out the guiding principles for developing a destination management plan (PDF, 411KB) although please be aware that these principles may not be relevant to all places.
Introductory guidance
Our main presentation for destination managers provides a comprehensive overview on DMPs, including:
- How a plan works;
- Examples from various destinations;
- Five key steps to help you to develop your DMP.
You can use this presentation to explain DMPs to your stakeholders.
Download the Introductory Guidance presentation (PPT, 2.31MB)
Introductory video
View our introductory video on destination management plans, which is a supplementary resource to the introductory guidance, on YouTube .
