Visit West is the accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, connecting businesses, local authorities, and the travel industry to grow a thriving, sustainable visitor economy.
Visit West has two roles; delivering the Bristol Business Improvement District (BID), and the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for the West of England. This website focuses on our work and the region’s visitor economy.
Our partnership and structure
Our Visit West LVEP was one of the first to be accredited by VisitEngland in 2023, following the publication of the De Bois review and the launch of the programme. However, it was launched in 2021, after merging the separate tourism boards of Visit Bath (est. 2003) and Destination Bristol (est. 1999) together, maintaining the public-private partnership.
Visit West is co-owned by Business West and the West of England Combined Authority, and is a company limited by guarantee, operating on a not-for-profit basis. It has four directors and an Advisory Board.
The official LVEP boundary is that of the four unitary authorities of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The LVEP works with businesses within these areas, and members beyond, to maximise the potential of the region's visitor economy.
We bring together the business communities, public sector, and wider industry stakeholders, including the domestic and international travel industry, to create a strategically-focused and innovative delivery organisation with a clear purpose.
Our purpose
To deliver the development, management, and marketing of the visitor economy for local authorities and the private sector in the West of England.
Our ambition
To be recognised as an exemplar Local Visitor Economy Partnership within the tourism industry, supported by local businesses and authorities. We will achieve this by:
Our mission
Visit West's mission is to lead, facilitate and support the development of the West of England's visitor economy, and deliver services which:
Our objectives
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Support the development of the tourism industry, a sector that, because of its dimensions and complexity, and its importance to the region’s economy, requires a high level of co-ordination if it is to fulfil its potential.
Our commitment to inclusivity
Visit West values diversity in all its forms and recognises the importance of ensuring fair and equitable access to opportunities for all, regardless of background.
Membership
Industry bodies we belong to
Visit West is a member of the following organisations:
We also work with the English Core Cities, England's Historic Cities, and the Great West Way.
