Businesses that rely on visitors and tourists are being offered the opportunity to promote their business for free via Experience Bedfordshire, on a first come, first served basis.

Central Bedfordshire Council is funding membership for 65 businesses to sign up to Experience Bedfordshire, a tourism organisation that promotes the whole of Bedfordshire, to give businesses a boost as the tourism sector reopens in line with the Government’s roadmap.

Experience Bedfordshire is the Destination Management Organisation for Bedfordshire and is open to a range of businesses, including hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants.

Kate McFarlane, Assistant Director for Business and Investment, said, “We are pleased to be supporting businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic sign up to Experience Bedfordshire to help boost their profile as they reopen. The visitor economy is a key sector for the Council and our ambition is to secure, sustain and grow businesses and jobs in this sector.

Chair of Experience Bedfordshire, Sarah Mortimer, said, “Experience Bedfordshire welcomes the Council’s incentive offer as a really positive opportunity in supporting the area to open back up and to help those businesses most affected by the pandemic. As the Destination Management Organisation for Bedfordshire, we are here to help support the Visitor Economy businesses in Bedfordshire, and part of that role is to encourage visitors to the area; therefore the more that this offer is taken up, the greater the return for the area.”

Businesses can sign up to Experience Bedfordshire by emailing marketing@experiencebedfordshire.co.uk