Who Needs Tourism?
On the formation of STAG
The closure of the Tourist Information office down near Folkestone Harbour, just
last August came as quite a blow to a town whose tourism potential needs
promoting not only throughout the country but also to the wider community. With
this in mind, a group of like minded people was drawn up by myself with the help
of the Town Centre Manager, John Barber, and a date for a meeting given.
So it was that some 20 people, including representatives from Shepway District
Council, Folkestone and Hythe Town Councils, the Creative Foundation and many
others met at an initial meeting on 25th August 2006. A follow-up established
this is a group coming under the umbrella Believing in Folkestone, a non-profit
organisation.
This group is now called Shepway Tourist Action Group, STAG and has an
organisational structure composed of sub-groups on Funding and Budget, Product
Development and Communications. John Barber and myself share the chair.
We are all looking forward to the developments in Folkestone which are now
proceeding apace. Many new shops are opening. The seafront development is being
debated, the new University Centre Folkestone is opening its doors, the Academy
is well under way, there is a new Broad Meadow Home and a Youth Project set to
commence near Easter in the Harbour Area. At the harbour too a Farmers’,
Fishermen’s and Artists Market will take place each weekend. All of these
developments improve the quality of life for the local residents and will also
be a draw for visitors from out of town.
Councillor Ann Berry
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter March 2007
