You’re all invited! Rediscover Your Coventry this summer

A new campaign has been launched to encourage visitors and local people to rediscover Coventry and all the amazing things it has to offer. To assist in the ongoing drive to promote the city’s attractions and hospitality businesses, a number of partner organisations have joined together to create a ‘Rediscover Your Coventry’ campaign.
 

 

Visit Coventry, alongside Coventry Business Improvement District and key city partners, are working together to deliver the campaign, which promotes Coventry’s tourism, retail and hospitality businesses as well as encouraging visitors and residents to safely return and enjoy the city’s attractions, hotels, shops, bars and restaurants that are now open again following the coronavirus lockdown.

The campaign will centre on social media and is aimed at people living within a 90 minute drive as well as local residents.

Tourism businesses across Coventry have been working tirelessly to adapt their venues to safely accommodate the return of much-missed visitors. Many city venues have implemented new safety measures, including the introduction of one-way systems, new signage, hand sanitising stations and applying ticketing arrangements to keep visitors and staff safe at all times.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “Everyone in Coventry has worked really hard to re-open and welcome local people and visitors back. Tourism is really important to our city’s economy and I’ve been really impressed with how everyone has adapted, so we can safely encourage a steady recovery of the tourism sector in Coventry.

“Recent research shows that in 2019, over 10m visitors came to Coventry and tourism was worth a staggering £594 million to our city. We are keen to build on this and it’s great to see people beginning to safely return. One thing is for sure, we are ready to welcome everyone back.”

Lots of the city’s tourism businesses have worked alongside VisitBritain to obtain their #GoodToGo seal of approval, a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to reassure customers that businesses adhere to Government and Public Health guidelines.

Coventry venues that have already secured this accreditation include Coventry Transport Museum, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Cathedral, Lunt Roman Fort, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, FarGo Village, Skydome and Go Ape.

Trish Willetts, BID Director, commented: “We fully support this fantastic campaign and are excited to show off our great city again. All our BID businesses have worked tirelessly to ensure that measures are in place to do this safely, welcoming customers both locally and from further afield. 

“Our recovery plan is set to continue building momentum, with a myriad of wonderful, collaborative events and offers to be announced in the coming months – watch this space!”

Across the coming weeks, another key ambition of the campaign is to welcome back Coventry residents, whilst also encouraging those within the nearby region to get out and rediscover what’s on their own doorstep by exploring the city.

Emma Harrabin, FarGo Village Manager, commented: “It’s been a challenging few months for the retail, hospitality, tourism and culture sectors, and I’m sure with more to come, but it’s been fantastic to work alongside partners from across the city to develop this campaign and start to welcome locals and visitors alike back to our city.

"The support for independent businesses during lockdown was overwhelming, which is something that we at FarGo Village are particularly grateful for. We plan to host a limited number of markets, both physical and digital, over the next couple of months to continue to support our local indies and ensure people are ready to #RediscoverYourCoventry”

There is a wide range of safe, family-friendly things to see and do across Coventry and should visitors want to discover more of what’s on offer, they can do so by visiting www.visitcoventry.co.uk.