Looe Music Festival is crowned Tourism Event of the Year at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2016/17.
The not-for-profit event has been recognised for its contribution to the tourism industry at the county’s prestigious awards ceremony, held on the evening of Thursday 3rd November.
The 2016 event helped to significantly boost the local economy with an estimated consumer spend of £3.46m during the week of the event*. Now firmly on the festival calendar, Looe Music Festival is a tourism magnet for the picturesque fishing port of Looe that’s going from strength to strength.
Event Director and Charity Trustee, Tanya Brittain, said: “Kes Lowena to all this year’s award winners and meur ras for this fantastic accolade. Being recognised for our contribution to Cornwall’s tourism, which is actually what the project is all about, is great. After winning bronze last year, this is very very special.”
Receiving the accolade, presented by Sir Tim Rice, finishes off a winning year for Looe Music Festival who gained the public’s vote to pick up Best Live Music Event at the What’s On Cornwall Awards in May. The annual music festival was also championed by BBC Music as the only festival in Cornwall to be supported by the BBC’s UK festival experience.
“Six years ago Looe was struggling to attract visitors due to consistently poor weather, the rail network collapse, road closures, land slides and the economy generally. It takes a long time to turn around the fortunes of a town so dependent on tourism. Looe has so much to offer to the cultural tourist and six years into our cultural tourism project it’s great to see the town reaping the rewards, not only in terms of increased visitor numbers but also through awards like this.
“It’s testament to all the hard work and dedication of everyone involved over the past six years. It goes to show what members of the local community can achieve by using their initiative and putting their energy into promoting something positive. This year, it was great to be in the company of so many other award winners from South East Cornwall, it’s an exciting time for the future of the area,” added Tanya Brittain.
The Cornwall Tourism Awards celebrates the very best of the county’s tourism industry. Now in it’s 15th year, record numbers of businesses applied and award categories were increased to reflect the ever-changing tourism landscape.
Held annually, Looe Music Festival celebrates arts, culture and marine life during its three-day live music gig and is part of a ten-year plan to rejuvenate the tourism industry of Looe.
As winner of the Cornwall Tourism Award, Looe Music Festival will be fast tracked into matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2017 and possibly invited to represent Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the 2017 National VisitEngland Awards.
Looe Music Festival 2017 will take place on the 29th September – 1st October. Previous headliners have included, Bryan Ferry, Wilko Johnson, Fun Lovin’ Criminal, Jools Holland, Johnny Marr, The Proclaimers, Reef, The Darkness, Frank Turner, Squeeze and Brand New Heavies. Early Bird weekend tickets are available at the discounted price of £99 for adults, £30 for under 18’s and under 5’s go free.
For more information, including 2017 line-up announcements, see www.looemusic.co.uk, follow @Looemusicfest or find us on www.facebook.com/looemusic.
*Consumer spend estimates are based on ticketed ‘staying visitors’ spending an average of £122 pppn on accommodation, local travel, food, drinks, groceries and souvenirs. Ticket day visitors are estimated to have spent £45 pppd. Source: Over Arup figures.
Published on 08 November 2016 by Ben Robinson
