INT3 (PP) - Positioning Plymouth as a major UK destination

The City will support and secure additional investment in its visitor economy, with programmes and actions to enhance Plymouth as a destination for all seasons, to grow high value tourism, market the city effectively, and support business tourism and tourist related business development and improve productivity. This will include:

1. Delivering a high quality visitor accommodation, business and conferencing offer for all visitors in its core tourism and business areas, including:
   1. Working proactively to attract 4 and 5 star and boutique hotels to the city and in particular to its core tourism, waterfront and business areas, filling a current gap in provision in the city's visitor accommodation offer.
   2. Supporting investment in alternative visitor accommodation models such as high quality self-catering accommodation, serviced apartments, camping and improving the offer currently provided.
   3.  Prioritising development of high value tourism including attracting more international visitors and business meetings, conference and incentives market.    
2. Recognising Plymouth as a destination for high quality restaurants and catering, linked to the Britain’s Ocean City brand and marine credentials, and supporting proposals and product development that strengthen this offer.
3. Enhancing the overall experience of visitors in travelling to and within the city through:
   1. Working to deliver high quality strategic and low carbon local public transport into and around the city (including the South West Coast Path and National Cycle Network, with good quality visitor information and additional efficient transport management for major events.
   2. Transforming the gateways to the city, including delivering comprehensive improvements to Plymouth Railway Station and Coach Station, building on the City’s cruise / ferry terminal strengths and responding to consumer demand for electric car charging facilities.
   3. Providing and promoting high quality pick up and drop off facilities for visitor coaches at accessible and convenient locations around the City Centre and Waterfront.
   4. Delivering a quality public realm for the City Centre and core tourism areas along the waterfront.
   5. Ensuring the the City Centre is suitable for active travel modes, is well connected to green and blue spaces, and is actively promoted to prospective visitors.
   6. Creating smoke-free spaces when events are held.
4. Maintaining and delivering a vibrant mix of attractions and destinations to support the visitor economy, including in the cultural, arts, leisure, heritage and retail sectors, as provided for by other policies of this plan.
5. Delivering a strategic programme of major events, including the Mayflower 400 celebrations, which deliver a long term economic and cultural development legacy for the city and will provide a vibrant and rich educational resource.
6. Enhancing Plymouth's offer for hosting conferences and as a meeting place for national and international business events through delivering a conference and meetings strategy and associated campaigns to attract targeted groups.
7. Using planning powers to identify strategic opportunities for new high quality hotels and address capacity shortages in hotels and visitor accommodation, and to support the provision of services and facilities to support the visitor economy.