Romance Writer puts Bath on the Map for Germans

 

In Britain, few may have heard of Rosamunde Pilcher, but in Germany, the former Mills & Boon writer is a household name. The serialisation of her novels for prime time German TV has become an institution and created romantic images of a 'quintessential England' that Germans long to visit. For Bath, where filming for a new series is currently underway, this is good news for the visitor economy.

• Great Britain receives almost 3 million visits a year from Germany, worth some £1.2billion. 

• 27% come to the South West – the biggest proportion of any region outside London 

• Germany is the second most valuable global outbound market 

• Germany continues to have a comparatively strong economy and a buoyant travel market 

This will be a strong year for travel to the UK from Germany, with the legacy of the Olympics resulting in growing number of overseas tourists coming to the country. Bath is well placed to capitalise on this, with 36 direct flights now flying in to Bristol Airport and a direct connecting bus service.

Bath Tourism Plus has been working hard in Germany: we have been made presentations and held meeting with travel writers and tour operators in key German cities and have been represented at Germany’s biggest corporate business event. We have also hosted a number of influential trade representatives in Bath and introduced them to local hotels and attractions. Already we are receiving feedback that there is a noticeable increase in Germans visiting Bath this year.

The influence of Bath being featured in a Rosamunde Pilcher TV series should not be underestimated. These series are shown on national German TV at peak Sunday viewing times, watched by many millions of Germans who gain inspiration to visit. VisitBritain, the national tourism body, recognises the effect that Rosamunde Pilcher has on German visits to the UK. For Bath to be featured is great news and something that should reap rewards for the city’s visitor economy.

Flying the Flag

Here I am with Bath Abbey's Charles Curnock, high above the City of Bath in March 2013. The photo was published in the Church Times - much to my mother's pleasure! Having commented to Charles on the tatty state of the old flag, he was kind enough to ask me to hoist this brand new, larger version which now proudly flies above the Abbey, come rain or shine. There are a number of flag poles around the city centre: some fly the Union Jack, whilst others remain desperately bare. Flags, banners and bunting give such a great sense of festivity and celebration to a city, it would be great to see more!

Bath's New Visitor Attraction - Built in 1767

 

This week sees the re-opening of No 1 Royal Crescent, John Wood’s masterpiece of Palladian design. Following a £5million restoration programme, which has taken 9 months to complete, the main house is now reconnected to its original service wing.

 

I had a sneak preview last week, and I can honestly say that the transformation is fantastic.

The house now showcases the lives and times of those who resided there – above and below stairs – when it was first built. The number of dressed rooms has been doubled, from five to ten, with many other areas , including a well stocked gift shop, being extended and improved. The rooms present a wonderfully vivid picture of fashionable life in C18th Bath. Each room is a fine example of Georgian interior design with authentic furniture, paintings, objects and textiles. From the elegance of the drawing and dining rooms, the bedrooms and parlour, to the warren of servants’ corridors, kitchen, scullery and housekeeper’s room, visitors will be intrigued by the stories the house portrays.

Central to the success of the new attraction will be the way that visitor flows are managed. This is where the operators (Bath Preservation Trust) will need to be sharp: a new ticketing and visitor management system is being introduced and a small army of volunteer guides are on hand to assist. The success of No 1 Royal Crescent will be judged by visitors and their tour experience.

The main house at No.1 Royal Crescent will fully re-open on 21 June.