8.1w What is the potential to make use of "non-traditional" data sources (for example GPS data, spending transactions or web/app traffic), to better determine tourism trends, behaviours and what influences those behaviours?

Background

We have a vision to put the UK among the world’s most dynamic, inclusive, and regenerative visitor economies - one that delivers regional growth, opportunity, and community pride across the country. To achieve this, DCMS needs to better understand drivers and influences of tourism, ‘what works’ in growing and improving the visitor offer, and therefore visitor number and spend across the whole of the UK, whilst considering the social and environmental impact of tourism. Gaining a more detailed understanding of the sector workforce and businesses, as well as making more intelligent use of data are also important research priorities. DCMS is keen to ground this understanding in place-based approaches, for example those focused on coastal and rural locations, and how issues of seasonality impact the sector. Place-based approaches cover a range of perspectives, for example visitor economy assets and services and experiences as part of wider local social, cultural and economic infrastructure.

Next steps

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