COVID-19 Response & Recovery Plan

9 May 202013 May 2020 Victoria Hodges

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Plan

Please be aware this document is fluid and can change as the COVID-19 situation develops and the government response and guidelines change.

The plan below is split into to two distinct sections:

Response Actions – these are actions that can be performed now and in preparation for the lockdown to be lifted.
Recovery Actions – these are actions that can be implemented ONLY when restrictions are fully lifted. Details of these are a little scant, since we don’t know yet how the lockdown will end.

If you can think of any changes that are required, missing actions or ideas that may help develop this document, please email them to business@visitlyntonandlynmouth.com

Response Actions

Response actions are ideas which businesses can implement while Lynton & Lynmouth are still in lockdown or as restrictions are reduced:

Support the Stay Home, Stay Safe message from Government
Supporting Local Business
Grow Visit Lynton & Lynmouth Brand Awareness
Be Ready for Recovery

Support the Stay Home, Stay Safe message from Government

Action	What you can do:
Support government rules and safety guidance during lockdown	Use all your communication channels to support key messages of Government and NHS, including: Social Media Your Business Website Email communications Reservation/Booking emails Use the following hashtags in social media: #stayhome #staysafe #visitlyntonandlynmouthlater #visitexmoorlater
Encourage responsible behaviour during lockdown and as restrictions are lifted	Communicate responsibly on social media. Help your customers follow the government rules and guidance. Support local police effort and community support workers.
Useful Links	GOV.UK COVID-19 website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus NHS Advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy: [PDF Document]
UK Hospitality Industry	Advice & Risk Assessment for the Hospitality Industry (DRAFT): [PDF Document]
PASC Association of Self-Caterers	Information & Support for the Self-Catering Industry: [External Link]

Supporting Local Business

Action	What you can do:
Local Government Funding	Ensure your business has applied for the available grants and loan schemes offered by local and central government Visit the North Devon Council Business Support Page https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-grants/coronavirus-support-for-businesses/
Surveys – tell others your views and share ideas	Complete these surveys to help monitor the impact of the lockdown Selaine Saxby MP Tourism Survey https://www.selainesaxby.org.uk/north-devon-tourism-survey [View results PDF] Visit Lynton & Lynmouth COVID-19 Lockdown Impact Survey https://forms.gle/JB5im6zYreVdjfs36 Visit Lynton & Lynmouth Recovery Action Survey https://forms.gle/dHwmULJBTJTUMLky7
Join/Subscribe to Local Tourism Groups & Associations and NDC newsletters	All businesses are eligible for a free listing on the Visit Lynton & Lynmouth website for 6 months as part of this recovery plan. Join Visit Exmoor as an associate member, subscribing to regular email newsletters and alerts about their initiatives. https://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/trade/associate-member-program Subscribe to North Devon Council’s regular e-bulletin to be informed of news and updates. The bulletins will include information on the local and national support available to businesses, and how to access it. https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKNORTHDEVON/subscriber
Data and intelligence	Join Visit Lynton & Lynmouth’s Big Data Collection for accommodation providers
Virtual Training & Skill Improvement	Free Digital Skills Courses include seminars on digital marketing, website design and search engine optimisation. The government have provided a skills toolkit available at https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk Heart of the South West Growth Hub one-to-one business support advisor https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/covid-19-support-for-business/covid-business-recovery-support/ Hospitality and tourism training courses – more info coming soon Social distancing and safety in tourism courses – more info coming soon
Buy locally and support local shops	Where possible, source products and food from local businesses and takeaway services. Help each other promote local shops selling goods and services online, especially if you have used them yourself in the past – you may not be able to buy something from them, but you can help them make those few extra needed sales.
Useful Links	Government support for Business: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-uk-businesses VisitBritain Coronavirus advice page: https://www.visitbritain.org/covid-19-new-coronavirus-latest-information-and-advice-businesses Tourism Know How an informal blog aimed at small rural businesses with down to earth advice and suggestions https://www.tourismknowhow.com/ideas

Grow Visit Lynton & Lynmouth Brand Awareness

Action	What you can do:
Develop social media campaigns	Love Lynton & Lynmouth – encourage visitors to write about their memories and experiences and share their stories Create Business Articles: Meet the Owners View ‘Meet the Owners’ Campaign Spotlight on Business View ‘Spotlight on Business’ Campaign Help write Lynton & Lynmouth stories and historical articles: History of the Rhenish Tower View the Article How Lynton & Lynmouth rebuild & recovered after the 1952 flood Highlight “Local Heroes” or L&L figures/people of interest Stories about rescue/recovery/restoration Lynmouth Mineral Company Use extracts from Hilary Bradt’s ‘Slow Guide to Exmoor’, the Lynton & Lynmouth sections. Use the following hashtags in social media: #virtuallynton #virtuallynmouth #lovelyntonandlynmouth
Participate in wider social media campaigns	Exmoor National Park & Visit Exmoor Dream – Discover – Explore campaign Use the following hashtags in social media: #virtualExmoor #MyExmoor
Use the Visit Lynton & Lynmouth brand	Adopt the Visit Lynton & Lynmouth logo and display it on your website, emails and sales literature
Work with our Tourism Partners	Find out ways to collaborate and share ideas with our local Tourism Partners: https://www.visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/business/tourism-partners
Upsell the area’s green credentials and sustainable tourism	Visit the Lyn Climate Action pages to get ideas and help promote Lynton & Lynmouth as an environmentally conscious destination.
Create ideas for virtual events and activities	Be inventive! Create inspirational virtual tours and experiences for visitors at home. Build a shared repository of images and video and drone footage we can all use in our social media and online marketing. Engage kids (and adults!) with colouring competitions of local landmarks as line drawings. Promote competitions, quizzes,, wordsearch, crosswords etc., the potential for offer vouchers to redeem when visiting.
Useful Links

Be Ready for Recovery

Action	What you can do:
Develop plans for when restrictions are lifted	Get your business ready for when restrictions are lifted. Here is some advice for adapting your business and implementing infection control measures: Exmoor Covid Recovery: Advice to Businesses document [PDF] Focus on getting our towns ready and prepare for an increase in visitor numbers, especially day visitors. Contribute to Lyn in Bloom – continue to care for overall appearance of towns’ floral displays as well as your business’s own displays, ready for when restrictions are lifted. Take part in the Lyn in Bloom Competition Plan for re-introduction of ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ messages, if required
Address ‘Fear of Travel’ concerns	Prepare wider and local welcome message which target regional visitors, those within an hour’s drive from Bristol, Bath and Exeter urban centres. Highlight measures taken by businesses e.g. extra hygiene, social distancing measures, deep cleans, staff training. Consider applying for extra accreditation from tourism bodies such as Visit Britain/Visit England to gain recognition for hygiene measures.
Respond to community concerns	Develop and promote a Visitors’ Responsible Behaviour Code and other initiatives. Promote new measures being taken by local businesses to improve safety. Highlight the importance of visitor spending in local shops to continue their existence. Highlight the value of tourism in our local community.
Prepare to attract new audiences and watch developing market trends	Develop new initiatives aimed at closer, younger audience, e.g. younger visitors from Bristol/Bath and similar urban centres. Use environmental credentials to target environmentally conscious visitors in recognition of climate emergency.
Aim to spread visitor across area and influence short-term footfall	Ensure promotion across all Lyn Valley areas with equal attention to less visited spots to influence short-term footfall. Prepare lists of outdoor places to visit including more open, less busy areas.
Support plans for new and existing events	Established summer events may be postponed to winter or be continued the following year. Some event suggestions include: Christmas Event – a joint L&L late night shopping, markets etc. Halloween Event – joint L&L late night shopping, fun things to do etc. – Spooky Disco at Town Hall for Kids, Big Kids and Bigger Kids Exmoor Dark Skies Festival (October) Music Festival / Comedy Acts at Town Hall Autumn Food Festival An L&L Eats ‘n Treats event? Bonfire Night (November 5) New Year’s Eve fireworks Lyn in Bloom Competition 2020 Harvest Festival Lynmouth Pavilion Project being re-introduced: – Putting on talks, slide shows, events and getting people involved online. – Interactive Courses: Wildflower, History, Photo Competition, Walking Trails, Drawing – Have a guide available to be on hand throughout the day to assist and advise. Woodside Bridge Opening Event (After Lockdown is lifted). Oktoberfest (19th Sept – 4th October) – Locally produced drink festival with sausages Maybe a focus on the history, events promoting a day of historical events, a Devon food day, an authentic Devon music day, a day for customs of the town, tastefully done and lots of social media promotion outside of the area
Develop NEW tourism products and packages	Work with local attractions and experience providers to develop unique days out and experiences for your customers. Create Top Ten lists for activities and attractions throughout North Devon & Exmoor – focus on places more suited to social distancing while supporting local attractions who need increased footfall. Re-develop the 21-mile Drive experience – unique stop-off points and beauty spots, supporting businesses on the route, create similar cycle route, spin-off walking routes to encourage exploration and support out-of-town communities.
Useful Links

Recovery Actions

Recovery actions include ideas which businesses can implement ONLY when travel and tourism restrictions are fully lifted:

Convert awareness to visits
Manage tourism safely and responsibly
Continue business support

Convert Awareness to Visits

Action	What you can do:
Deploy our Welcome Back campaigns	Tell customers that Lynton & Lynmouth will be open for business and potentially an extended trading season Utilise shared collection of high quality images and video and drone footage on websites and social media. Use hashtags: #VisitLyntonSafely #VisitLynmouthSafely
Extended Trading Season	If you are planning to be open through the Winter. Communicate your extended trading hours The Cliff Railway is considering opening during the Autumn/Winter period (not confirmed). Watersmeet Tea Rooms and the Heddon Valley will be open during the Winter at weekends Publish list of pubs, restaurants and cafés which will be open Consider opening diaries for bookings into the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Promotion of any packages and itineraries and special offers and publicise NEW tourism products	Focus on staycations and the domestic UK market, entice younger travellers and affluent spenders. Promote packages created as part of the response actions.
Promote significant events, special qualities and seasonal appeal	Work with tourism partners across North Devon & Exmoor to highlight the appeal of the wider area. View Lynton & Lynmouth as part of a collection of destinations, as we face competition from Dartmoor, South Devon and Cornwall.
Journalism, Media & Film	Prepare press releases and use media contacts to create articles, interview opportunities and editorials.
Useful Links

Manage Tourism Safely & Responsibly

Action	What you can do:
Continue to support government rules and safety guidance	Use all your communication channels to continue to support key messages of Government and NHS, including: Social Media Your Business Website Email communications Reservation/Booking emails Use the following hashtags in social media: #VisitLyntonSafely #VisitLynmouthSafely #VisitExmoorSafely
Encourage responsible behaviour and sustainable tourism activities	Communicate responsibly on social media – how we react to visitors can be seen by the world. Help your customers follow the government rules and guidance for example place customer notices in your businesses to remind them of safe practices.
Manage visitor flow and levels	Implement plans to tackle potential overcrowding at hotspots and tourist traps.
Promote seasonal offers	Help spread the volume of visitors over the season and shoulder months with special offers.
Useful Links

Continue Business Support

Action	What you can do:
Maintain links with Tourism Partners	Continually update and remain in contact with tourism partners, sharing knowledge and experience.
Networking opportunities	Take part in business-to-business networking events, tourism and leaflet exchanges. Reorganise training and skills workshops for later in the year.
Useful Links