insideKENT Magazine Issue 40 - July 2015 | Page 87

DAYSOUT

Visit Kent
The Garden of England attracts more than 58 million visitors a year, and it’s not hard to see
why. With more castles and gardens than any other county in the UK, stunning galleries and
museums, Blue Flag beaches and award-winning wines, this corner of England could almost
sell itself. But that honour belongs to Visit Kent. © images Visit Kent

Working closely with tourism business across the county, Visit Kent is
responsible for promoting everything that Kent has to offer to visitors from
around the world.

and the latest marketing intelligence,
and developing skills and quality
through training and advice.

Visit Kent was formed in 2002 as a public/private sector partnership supported
by Kent County Council, Medway Council, the county’s 12 district and
borough councils, and leading private sector tourism businesses. It has
more than 100 members and is recognised as one of the leading Destination
Management Organisation’s (DMO) in the country.

Each month, Visit Kent produces a
business barometer of how tourism
is fairing in the county using live
data from attractions,
accommodation providers, cross
channel carriers and visitor
information centres, and it also offers
training courses on everything from
social media to best practice
marketing.

Through the consumer
website,
www.visitkent.co.uk,
and various social
media channels, the
DMO promotes Kent as
a premier destination to
both UK and overseas
markets and works
tirelessly to introduce
more people to the
Garden of England.

Through the new Kent Hospitality,
Transport and Tourism Guild, Visit
Kent with Kent County Council,
educate providers and employers
to support young people interested
in joining the sector, and businesses
in recruiting and developing young
people within sustainable jobs.

Visit Kent chief executive, Sandra Matthews-Marsh, MBE said: “Honestly,
you could not ask for a better product to ‘sell’ than the Garden of England.
We have world famous attractions such as the White Cliffs of Dover,
Canterbury Cathedral, Hever and Leeds Castles, and we are the UK’s
gateway to Europe. We also have a vibrant contemporary cultural scene.

Sandra added: ( ėB6