The South Downs National Park Visitor Survey includes an Environmental Survey to assess the impact visitors have on the landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the National Park. Acorn, working with Natural Values, is conducting two surveys; one with Land Managers and the second with the nature conservation and cultural heritage sites across the Park.

Virtual Tourism Observatory for the EU. Acorn is working with the Office for National Statistics on a feasibility study to develop a virtual tourism observatory for the European countries. The aim is to provide an integrated database of tourism information as well as establish a framework to ensure its operation is both useful and sustainable.

OUR LAND has been launched, championed by BBC Autumnwatch presenter, Kate Humble. www.our-land.co.uk promotes handpicked places to stay and things to do in the beautiful protected landscapes of the South of England. Acorn is working with www.responsibletravel.com and the High Weald AONB to recruit and support tourism businesses to be part of this exciting sustainable tourism campaign.

An analysis of the Kent Coast in Thanet, Dover and Shepway will identify potential locations for tourism development and recommend improvements in signage, as part of the Visit Kent CAST Interreg IVa project that Acorn will carry out with associates Tourism Plus and Real Places.

A Masterplan for London Wildlife Trust and Thames Water's East and West Reservoirs in Hackney will create a vision for the Woodberry Wetlands with improved access, education and visitor facilities. Acorn is again working with associates Allen Scott to deliver the business plan for this Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 1 scheme.

Economic Impact of Tourism in Mongolia Acorn has just completed a review of the system of tourism statistics in Mongolia, and an assessment of the economic impact of tourism in the country. This involved analysis of tourist arrivals data and visitor survey findings. It was estimated that Tourism Value Added to the Mongolian economy was US$140.2 million. Tourism GDP was calculated at 2.1%.

English Heritage commissions a Conservation Plan for Eltham Palace and Gardens.
Acorn is working with landscape specialists ACTA to deliver the community consultation and events strategy for the Conservation Plan for Eltham Palace’s stunning 1930s garden. Local schools, colleges and societies are being consulted to establish options for the future use of the gardens and its significance to the site’s medieval and Art Deco heritage.

Slow Tourism – Acorn’s latest report for Mintel
This report looks into the Slow Tourism sector worldwide, which is rapidly growing as a niche market within responsible tourism. It is broadly defined as travel that interacts closely with the local environment and culture. This is the most in depth report yet to be written about Slow Tourism.

Acorn awarded Falklands Contract
The Falkland Islands Tourist Board has contracted Acorn to undertake a review of seven niche markets that are of importance to them. These include bird watching, trekking, marine tourism, and war tourism. The profiles provide the Tourist Board with information on other destinations that are competitors within these markets, the global size of each market, profile of consumers, and future trends.

BBC's Phil Kennedy show launches Countryside 2011
Listen to Alison Burgh's interview with BBC Radio Berkshire's Phil Kennedy to launch Countryside 2011. Acorn is organising the second year of the campaign that attracted more than 38,000 new people to the countryside in 2010, a fantastic promotional opportunity for all countryside based activities and events across the south east www.countryside2011.org.uk
Listen to Alison's interview (file size 3.64Mb).

Feasibility Study for Kent Wildlife Trust's Sevenoaks Reserve
The Kent Wildlife Trust would like to develop a flagship visitor centre and reserve at their Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. They have appointed Acorn and associates Allen Scott to look at the options for the site and undertake a Feasibility Study and Master Plan to provide a deliverable framework for best practice and innovative future development at the reserve.

Tourism Statistics Management Information System for Zanzibar
Acorn has just signed up another country to operate its unique online tourism statistics system, T-STATS. Zanzibar has contracted Acorn to implement the system on the Island, as well as develop visitor exit surveys and accommodation surveys. T-STATS will be ready for use by the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and other stakeholders by the end of the year.

The Impact of Mega Events on Tourism
With the London 2012 Olympics less than two years away, Acorn was commissioned by Mintel to undertake this comprehensive study of the impact of mega events, such as the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the European City of Culture, on tourism in host countries. Mintel will publish the findings in November 2010.

Tourism Satellite Account for Albania
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports in Albania has commissioned Acorn to develop the country’s first TSA. The project, which will involve the installation of Acorn’s ground-breaking T-STATS online tourism statistics system, will be completed over a period of six months. Regional visitor surveys and accommodation occupancy surveys will be undertaken to enable visitor demand to be measured accurately.

Richmond Visitor and Transport Survey
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames commissioned
Acorn to undertake a sustainable transport survey of 1,000 visitors
and residents that looks at the type of transport used to travel to key attractions, and expenditure during the visitors stay. This will update the Visitor Economy Study undertaken by Acorn in 2009.

Rebranding of Zanzibar: Acorn is currently working with the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors and Government of Zanzibar on a marketing and rebranding study for the Islands. Acorn are collaborating with Serengeti Advisors of Tanzania to undertake this work, which will be used to produce a wide range of marketing and promotional materials from DVD's to maps of the Islands.

Networking dates for your diary: Go Green in the South Downs next meeting is at the Arundel Wetland Centre at 11am on 27th September. Acorn is also organising the South Downs Responsible Tourism Dinner with Collabor8 on 11th November 2010. Speakers include Justin Francis from ResponsibleTravel.com and Xavier Font from the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. Contact us if you’d like to find out more or would like an invitation.

Bath Tourism Plus launches T-STATS Online. Acorn’s highly respected tourism statistics database system, which is widely used internationally, is now being installed in Bath, by Bath Tourism Plus and North East Somerset. CEO Robin Bishert says “T-STATS has transformed the way we collect and track the visitor economy. Other Destination Management Organisations would certainly benefit from using it”.

A sustainable tourism business network is being set up in the South Downs. We are working with the South Downs Joint Committee and the Collabor8 project to establish Go Green in the South Downs (www.gogreensouthdowns.ning.com) a sustainable business network to bring together businesses that want to promote the South Downs as a green tourism destination.

The Oman Tourist Board is using Acorn for the third year to assess the awareness of the Oman brand amongst UK consumers. We are using an online panel survey and focus groups to provide in depth analysis of their target market.

Rwanda’s Development Board has chosen Acorn to return to Rwanda and to continue to develop their tourism statistics, install T-STATS and develop a Tourism Satellite Account.

Acorn has moved! We haven’t gone far, just a couple of miles away to our own beautiful eco-friendly offices in ancient woodland on the Sussex-Kent border. The consultancy operates upstairs and downstairs we run our tourism statistics training courses, and hire out the space for meetings and networking events.