New ways of marketing Brecon Beacons National Parks' £205 million tourism industry will be high on the agenda at the eighth annual Tourism in Action conference next week (March 13).

The conference, held at Brecon's Theatr Brycheiniog, will bring together numerous representatives from the COLLABOR8 cluster groups, local B&Bs, pubs, hotels, Welsh local authorities, regional development agencies, voluntary and Tourist Information Centres to hear how to market themselves in a protected area. 

Keynote speakers are Kate Shepherd from Our Land, who will highlight how businesses in SE England are successfully marketing themselves in their respective protected designations, along with Richard Hammond and Nick Stewart from Green Traveller, who are experts at creating partnerships with destinations.

The conference will also hear about the new brand being developed for the area and be able to contribute ideas towards the emerging destination website.

Tourism in Action is hosted by the Brecon Beacons Sustainable Tourism Partnership with the support of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA).  It is designed to highlight how local tourism businesses can develop new ways of working in partnership in a way that respects the environment and retains the character of the Brecon Beacons.

Richard Tyler, the BBNPA's Sustainable Tourism Manager said: "Tourism is an exciting and rewarding market to be involved in but it's also a demanding and complex one. That is why the National Park Authority together with all its partners but particularly Brecon Beacons Tourism, continues to help raise the profile of the National Park as a viable tourist destination – not only here but across the world. 

"Our achievements are only possible through close co-operation with our local agencies and tourism businesses themselves. Our growing reputation is testament to the partnership work we undertake to deliver some of the best sustainable tourism initiatives throughout Europe."

Brecon Beacons Tourism Director, Punch Maughan welcomed the conference as an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the marketing and branding issues in the Brecon Beacons.

"This annual conference is always a wonderful opportunity to hear from and be inspired by other tourism experts from outside our area and to be able to use their advice and expertise to guide us as we work together to try and achieve the best for the Brecon Beacons," she said.

 The conference is funded by and part of the COLLABOR8 Interreg IVB NWE project.

If you are interested in attending please contact Nicky Williams by email: [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone 01874 624 437.