Gift ‘experiences’ this Christmas to help West Sussex tourism

Hard-hit visitor attractions and other local businesses affected by the pandemic are to be given a boost by a #ShopSussex campaign in the run up to Christmas.
You could gift a paddleboarding experience in Sussex to a loved one this ChristmasYou could gift a paddleboarding experience in Sussex to a loved one this Christmas
You could gift a paddleboarding experience in Sussex to a loved one this Christmas

The idea is to encourage people to buy vouchers for unusual local experiences , including helicopter flights, learning to paddleboard, garden membership, wine tasting, theatre and attraction tickets, local art, special holidays and meals out – all to be enjoyed when COVID-19 national restrictions allow.

The #ShopSussex campaign has been launched by Experience West Sussex, with support from West Sussex County Council, to help local tourism.

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Experience West Sussex is responding to calls from businesses for meaningful, practical support and the #ShopSussex campaign is free for businesses to get involved with this year.

Jo Williams, Experience West Sussex partnership manager, said: “We have been listening carefully to our local tourism and hospitality businesses.

“Our campaign delivers an extra level of 100 per cent subsidised marketing that many small businesses just don’t have access to at this difficult time.

“As well as offering local residents an online digital marketplace to shop local, we will be targeting regional, national and international visitors that have been physically unable to visit the county this year to give them a chance to make their Christmas a little more Sussex!”

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Bob Lanzer, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for economy, said: “This is a really positive initiative. West Sussex tourist attractions and other businesses are facing unprecedented challenges in the COVID-19 crisis.

“#ShopSussex gives residents the opportunity to show their support for the local economy in the run-up to Christmas.

“It also features initiatives across the county to encourage residents to support high streets, particularly when shops selling non-essential goods reopen.”

If you run a hospitality or tourism business with online bookable experiences, Sussex artisan gifts, local food and drink, vouchers, memberships, creative courses to sell this Christmas, email your offers to [email protected]

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The Experience West Sussex Partnership aims to deliver ‘collective value’ through leadership, inspiration and collaboration for the benefit of the West Sussex visitor economy.

The partnership is funded by district councils, the county council and the Coastal West Sussex Partnership for county-wide delivery of tourism projects.

As well as being a central voice for the region on tourism and the visitor economy, the partnership delivers local business support and creative marketing campaigns to attract visitors to the area.

To find out more about Experience West Sussex, visit: {http://ExperienceWestSussex.com|ExperienceWestSussex.com