Bournemouth
Bournemouth is one of the
destinations chosen for the UK’s destination audit and is a large seaside town located on the South Coast of
England. It has seven miles of beach and an exceptionally warm micro climate making it a favourite of U.K. travellers. With its large student population who
attend Bournemouth University and the Art College, the town is a refreshing mix
of young and old.
Bournemouth – Europe’s first national coastal tourism
academy
In 2012 Bournemouth was
awarded £2 million over two years
from the government's coastal communities
fund to create Europe's first national coastal
tourism academy. Funds will also
support tourism businesses. The project aims to create 165 jobs over three
years in Bournemouth and 2,100 nationwide.
Boscombe Spa Resort
Bournemouth Borough
Council’s innovative £13.5 million Boscombe Spa Village regeneration scheme has
transformed an economically and socially deprived coastal suburb, re-branding
it into a year round 21st century surf lifestyle destination creating a centre-piece
attraction as Europe’s first artificial surf
reed. Building on a long established
local tradition for surfing and water sports, Europe’s first artificial surf
reef extends the traditional beach season into the winter helping to deliver a
year round beach attraction and has increased trading for the local tourism
industry. Boscombe Spa was actually the original Spa destination, first established
during the reign of Queen Victoria back in 1867.
Surf Reef
Boscombe Spa is officially
home to Europe's first artificial Surf Reef which will offer 10-15ft waves for
over 150 days each year. Boscombe Pier has been restructured and now offers the
perfect observation platform to bath in the sun and watch the surfers enjoy the
reef. Supported by surf shops and surf
schools, the reef will attract surfers from around the world to Boscombe Spa
and is key in the regeneration of Boscombe Spa Resort. The Reef has 50 new surf pods replacing old
style beach huts, secure locker facilities and new food areas offering a choice
of restaurants, cafes and live entertainment.
