Destination Management Framework
What is the Destination Management Framework?
The Destination Management Framework (DMF) 2020 is our five-year plan for growing Thanet’s amazing visitor economy, working hand-in-hand with our local tourism, leisure, and hospitality businesses.
It built on the earlier Destination Management Plan (DMP), which established a shared vision and boosted partnership working and initiatives to develop the visitor offer.
The Framework focussed on key things that would make the most significant difference, and which could be realistically achieved by working together. Our aim was to keep Thanet’s visitor economy strong and growing. It focussed on developing higher-value, year-round, quality tourism experiences, ensuring sustainability for visitors, industry, community, and the environment.
Despite growth, the visitor economy feels vulnerable. Thanet aims to be a well-managed destination, attracting visitors and businesses for long-term growth and jobs. Great places to visit are also great places to live and work.
Delivering the DMF’s priority projects offered benefits. These included opportunities for business-led projects, free use of Shared Story storylines for off-season experiences, and enhanced training/ambassador programmes to increase visitor spend and repeat visits.
The headline priorities were:
Vibrant Towns
Making Thanet’s town centres more attractive to visitors and providing more of the right kind of accommodation.
Coastline Focus
Focusing on providing year-round experiences, activities and facilities at key sites along the coast
The Isle of Thanet Promise
Using strong themes from Thanet’s shared story to develop brilliant experiences and a brilliant welcome.
Commissioned by Thanet District Council and developed by Blue Sail, the Framework was a strategic plan of action for the entire destination. It intended to encourage delivery against its priorities through partnership with public, private, and third-sector organisations. Although prepared before the COVID-19 crisis, its content was relevant and helped inform recovery efforts, driving local economic growth, supporting tourism businesses, and encouraging investment.
Tourism will continue to be one of the drivers of the local economy; it will support the growth and sustainability of tourism and leisure businesses and it will encourage investors to the area.
Since the Framework, plans and funding have been secured, including the Margate Town Deal and the Ramsgate Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme. Find out more about these and other regeneration projects on the Thanet District Council Website.
