Dorset has been awarded official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status by VisitEngland.
What is an LVEP:
VisitEngland has created a portfolio of over 40 nationally supported, strategic and high-performing Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) across the country. LVEPs provide strong leadership and governance in tourism for their destination and work in collaboration locally, regionally and nationally on shared priorities and targets. The LVEPs' mission is to support and grow the visitor economy through robust destination management and strong stakeholder relationships.
Who are we:
Dorset Council is the accountable body for the Dorset LVEP and led on the application for LVEP status, supported by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and the Dorset Tourism Association.
Visit Dorset will lead on the delivery of the LVEP activity with support from the LVEP Advisory Board.
The Dorset Tourism Association will now become the LVEP Advisory Board for the Dorset LVEP and has representation from all sectors of the visitor economy across Dorset including:
- Dorset LVEP Chairperson
- Dorset Arts and Culture Sector
- Dorset Food & Drink
- Chair of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Destination Management Board
- Chair of Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association – representing serviced accommodation
- Chair of Best of Dorset Attractions Group
- Dorchester Town Council
- Weymouth BID
- Swanage Town Council
- Dorset Holiday Parks – representing non serviced accommodation
- Dorset National Landscape
- National Trust
- The Tank Museum
- Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
- Hall & Woodhouse - representing hospitality
Cabinet members from Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and officers from the Visit Dorset tourism team attend.
Our Plans for Dorset
Dorset’s official LVEP status was achieved in April 2025.
The partnership will draft a Growth Plan for Dorset and by December 2026, will have produced a Destination Management Plan for the county.
Across the Dorset LVEP geography the following key unifying themes that affect the visitor economy have been identified:
- Improving Productivity, Skills and Employment
- Improving Accessibility
- Improving Sustainability
- Building the Dorset brand, inspiring excellence and raising product quality
These four key strategic priorities, along with the ambition to grow total visitor related spend by 5% by 2029 and the opportunities that LVEP status provides, will guide the work of the LVEP partnership to support the visitor economy across Dorset.
Read our press release – Dorset achieves Local Visitor Economy Partnership Status
Annual Growth plan – currently in development
Dorset LVEP, Destination Management Plan – currently in development
