Destinations are the places that people want to visit and experience, destinations are the heart and soul of England's Visitor Economy. Destinations are diverse - they don't always fit neatly into county (or national) borders or within public sector administrative boundaries. They may cover a single destination, e.g. Oxford, or a number of smaller destinations with a strong identity caused by its natural geography or landscape well known in its own right, e.g. the Cotswolds.
Destinations are multifaceted places containing a number of stakeholders with their own specific needs. Experience shows that without collaboration, coordination and a continued focus, places do not evolve with a common purpose. To create a successful and sustainable visitor economy in an area, all the components that make a successful destination need to be managed in an integrated and long-term way, with a clear focus on the needs of both residents, businesses and visitors. This is pivotal to the Strategic Framework for Tourism in England objective "to offer compelling destinations of distinction".
The pages found in this section provide an overview of organisations that have a role in developing tourism locally, information on England's Destination Management Forum and resources for those who are involved in destination management.