In Cornwall, St Ives, Penzance, and Looe Town Councils explored how the visitor economy could generate additional funds for community projects and services.

Our role

We were asked to assess the feasibility of a voluntary visitor contribution scheme, working with partners across the tourism and community sectors.

What we delivered

• Engagement with local businesses, sector leaders, public partners and major platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com
• A detailed feasibility study and options appraisal
• Clear recommendations with financial, operational, and impact considerations

Impact

Our study showed strong potential to raise funds for community projects and generated interest from councils to pilot the approach in future years.