England's Waterways Visitor Survey

The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) supports the creation of new jobs, the expansion of existing businesses and attracts new businesses and investment to the region, aligned to the ambitions set out in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Strategic Economic Plan. Formerly Marketing Birmingham, the company was established in April 2017. It continues to operate the leisure and business tourism programmes Visit and Meet Birmingham, inward investment programme Business Birmingham and its partnership programme. Birmingham is at the heart of England's waterway network and Birmingham Airport is a primary international gateway for international visitors from our target markets, Germany and the Netherlands. There are direct flights from 12 cities across these countries to Birmingham. The target markets are repeat visitors of 45-65 years of age, easy outdoor adventurers and mature experience seekers. This project is funded by Visit Britain / Visit England's 'Discover England' programme, which seeks to broaden the reach of international visitors to England through introduction to new markets and development of bookable, commissionable product. It is match funded by project partners. Lot 1: Survey A survey of customers who purchase the packages marketed as part of the project (e.g. narrow boating, walking and cycling, wider year round activity such as cultural short breaks) is required. Lot 2: Qualitative Research Further in-depth, qualitative research with a sub-set of survey participants is required to further understand their motivations to visit and to purchase, satisfaction with their experience, booking behaviour and reaction to media and marketing activity. We will require research to take place with a representative cross section of customers (i.e. by type of package purchased, source market, demographics). Again we are happy to consider different possible methodologies (i.e. depth interviews, focus groups). Lot 3: Economic Impact Evaluation An evaluation of the economic impact of the England's Waterways Project is required. This should include direct impact and multiplier effects, and the numbers of jobs supported both directly and indirectly by the project. All suppliers must visit our e-Procurement system (In-Tend) to register and submit the tender. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/marketingbirmingham/aspx/Home