Remote hills and valleys in Lesotho, Africa

More than twenty years of sustainable tourism development for destinations worldwide

Riverfront in Copenhagen, Denmark

Helping tourism businesses innovate and stimulate the visitor economy

Rural scene in the United Kingdom

Supporting the sector to create a collaborative and sustainable future for people, places and the planet

Bridge over the River Tyne in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Providing dedicated expertise and strategic planning for regenerative tourism development globally

Welcome to Acorn Tourism Consulting

What We Do

Inspiration

  1. Market trader in Rwanda
    Our reputation in the field of tourism statistics and measuring the economic impact of tourism is unparalleled. We are experts in the development of systems of tourism statistics, compilation of tourism satellite accounts and natural capital accounting, as well as measuring the local economic impact of tourism. Our ATOM forecasting model and T-Stats tourism tracking system are two products we have developed and installed in destinations across the globe.
  2. Seven Sisters in East Sussex, UK
    We plan and develop tourism products and experiences that are financially and environmentally sustainable. Acorn’s in-depth understanding of niche visitor markets ensures we can help you differentiate yourself from your competitors by creating innovative market-led experiences. We can provide options appraisals, feasibility studies, business planning and capacity building to support your product development process.
  3. Kitesurfing in Aruba
    In an increasingly competitive global marketplace, it is essential to have a strong brand and a marketing campaign that clearly promotes your values and resonates with your target audience. Acorn builds destination brands and content marketing strategies. We deliver digital marketing campaigns, build national tourism websites and create inspiring content. Working with travel influencers we can do social media takeovers. We can also monitor your brand awareness and the effectiveness of your promotional campaigns.
  4. Boats on the Thames, Richmond upon Thames, London
    We can help you work out where you want to go and how to get there. Acorn uses a well-defined strategic planning process to establish how you can become a more competitive and sustainable destination or tourism business. Our approach is collaborative, engaging widely with your stakeholders, creating a joint vision and co-developing an Action Plan that can be implemented with the available financial resources and workforce.
  5. Sightseeing in Latvia
    We offer expert qualitative and quantitative tourism market research, including face-to-face and online surveys, focus groups, bulletin boards, and business and stakeholder consultations. We maintain and update vast databases of research that include niche market and destination profiles, inbound and outbound tourist flows, and industry trends. This allows us to commentate, predict and forecast with insight, intelligence and confidence.
  6. Camels in the desert, Namibia
    T-Stats is our online tourism tracking system for destinations. We understand that every destination is different, so T-Stats is tailor-made to allow you to track whatever is important, from accommodation occupancy, through to visits to attractions, footfall, attendance at events and even the weather. Bringing all this together into one easy-to-use database provides information for assessing the effectiveness of marketing activities, attracting investors, assisting funding applications or simply getting to know your destination better.
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Acorn Tourism Consulting has:

Inspiration

  1. Successfully completed
    310
    projects
  2. Enjoyed working with
    165
    clients
  3. Delivered projects in
    85
    countries
  4. Served the sector for
    22
    years

Where We Work

Number of results: 322

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    Kensington, United Kingdom, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

    Telephone

    65000

    Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,

    The aim of this study was to provide up-to-date information on the importance of the visitor economy and to ensure that future policy decisions incorporated a detailed understanding of the benefits and potential conflicts that large numbers of…

  2. Address

    Jordan, UNWTO, EBRD

    Telephone

    18000

    UNWTO, EBRD,

    This study was part of the joint project of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): Covid-19 Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Cooperation Package – Facilitating Tourism Recovery in…

  3. Address

    Worldwide, CBI, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency

    Telephone

    5000

    CBI, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency,

    A detailed report about the LBGTQ market segment was required to support SME’s to prepare their tourism product for the European market.

  4. Address

    Africa, CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Agency

    Telephone

    150000

    CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Agency,

    Acorn is working with CBI Netherlands for three years to deliver market intelligence, product development and capacity building reports that connect tourism SMEs from developing countries to the European market.

  5. Address

    Worldwide, CBI, the Netherlands Enterprise Centre

    Telephone

    5000

    CBI, the Netherlands Enterprise Centre,

    This comprehensive business guide was aimed at supporting SMEs throughout Africa, Asia and South America to compete effectively in the European tourism market for MICE tourism.

  6. Address

    Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, Lincolnshire County Council

    Telephone

    15000

    Lincolnshire County Council,

    The cumulative potential of Uphill Lincoln's historic assets: the Norman castle, cathedral, Bishop's Palace and Magna Carta, were assessed and investment opportunities identified to help Lincoln move from being a half-day to a short break…

  7. Address

    Switzerland, Ministry of Labour, UNWTO

    Telephone

    18000

    Ministry of Labour, UNWTO,

    This study was commissioned by the Swiss Ministry of Labour and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to undertake an assessment of the Swiss tourism product, the key source markets, and competing destinations in Europe.

  8. Address

    Botswana, Department of Tourism, UNWTO, UNDP

    Telephone

    75000

    Department of Tourism, UNWTO, UNDP,

    The project was aimed at assisting the Research and Statistics Unit in the Department of Tourism through intensive training and capacity building, in particular focussing on their tasks of processing and reporting on visitor arrivals, accommodation…

  9. Address

    Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Tourism, Boston Consulting Group

    Telephone

    36000

    Ministry of Tourism, Boston Consulting Group,

    Assessment of the existing tourism product and markets visiting the Asir province of Saudi Arabia, followed by the identification of a series of development options to encourage domestic and international tourism, in particular for adventure and…

  10. Address

    Jordan, Netherlands Enterprise Agency CBI, Jordan

    Telephone

    240000

    Netherlands Enterprise Agency CBI,

    The programme is to strengthen the sustainability of the SME tour operators in Jordan by increasing their sales to Europe as well as to the domestic and regional markets.

  11. Address

    Worldwide, Mintel

    Telephone

    2500

    Mintel,

    Specialist niche market report that examines the market for Gap Year travel covering market influences, profile and segmentation, which tour operators support the market, and what the outlook for the industry looks like.

  12. Address

    London, United Kingdom, London Borough of Lambeth

    Telephone

    15000

    London Borough of Lambeth,

    Acorn's Business Plan provided Lambeth Council’s Parks Department with a viable model to generate income by creating a café in one of the disused buildings on Streatham Common, providing additional facilities for users of the adjacent playground.

  13. Address

    Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, Visit Cambridge and Beyond

    Telephone

    4000

    Visit Cambridge and Beyond,

    Visit Cambridge and Beyond is the official tourism service for Cambridge and the surrounding areas, responsible for marketing Cambridge to UK and international markets. In 2019 they contracted Acorn T-Stats to implement our online tourism…

  14. Address

    Borough of Camden, United Kingdom, London Borough of Camden

    Telephone

    12000

    London Borough of Camden,

    Study commissioned by the London Borough of Camden to use existing local and regional data, in tandem with a survey of local businesses, to assess and estimate the net economic impact of the 2012 Olympic Games and forecast visitor demand in 2013.

  15. Address

    Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, United Kingdom, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

    Telephone

    15000

    Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea,

    Study to determine the demand and additional expenditure that would be generated in Kensington and Chelsea, as well as the rest of London, from visitors if a Crossrail station was developed on the King's Road.

  16. Address

    Africa, Mintel

    Telephone

    2500

    Mintel,

    Specialist niche market report that examines Cross-Continental Tourism in sub-Saharan Africa, discussing the major destinations and typical routes, methods of transport, size of the market, trip characteristics and operators in the market.

  17. Address

    Lancashire, United Kingdom, ReBlackpool

    Telephone

    21000

    ReBlackpool,

    Study to investigate, analyse and report on the economic and other related outcomes of two new proposed developments to the illuminations at Blackpool, and assess the impact of these developments on visitor numbers, visitor nights, overnight stays,…

  18. Address

    Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

    Telephone

    5000

    Tunbridge Wells Borough Council,

    The 3-year Business Plan needed to address restructuring and funding constraints, while supporting local businesses, providing high quality service and increasing income. Relocation, proactive marketing, developing staff sales skills were key…

  19. Address

    St. Helena, St. Helena Tourism

    Telephone

    5000

    St. Helena Tourism,

    In 2017 travel to St Helena by air became possible with the opening of an airport on the island. In order to track the growth of tourism that was anticipated, St Helena Tourism contracted Acorn T-Stats to implement our online tourism statistics…

  20. Address

    East Sussex, United Kingdom, High Weald AONB Joint Advisory Committee

    Telephone

    5000

    High Weald AONB Joint Advisory Committee,

    A review of tourism in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was undertaken to inform managers, the Joint Advisory Committee, about how the area is used and enjoyed by visitors and how public understanding and enjoyment could be improved.

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Featured Projects

Inspiration

  1. Caribbean Regional Tourism Marketing Strategy
    This Regional Tourism Marketing Strategy was developed to provide a detailed and instructive way forward for marketing Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a region in the Caribbean.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023
  2. Feasibility Study for the Development of a Cultural Heritage Research and Visitor Centre on the Farasan Islands
    This feasibility study was commissioned to assess the development of a Farasan Archipelago Cultural Research and Heritage Centre (FARHC), which would serve local communities, particularly educational institutions, as well as national and international visitors.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023
  3. Tourism Satellite Account for Botswana: 2019
    This study was the fourth Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) compilation for Botswana, with previous compilations being undertaken for the years 2006, 2009 and 2016. The main data for the compilation of the TSA was derived from the Visitor Exit Survey undertaken annually by the Department of Tourism and a range of data compiled by Statistics Botswana including GDP calculations, employment data and other economic statistics.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023
  4. Relaxing on the beach in Sierra Leone
    Acorn Tourism, along with joint venture partners, The Journey Tourism Consulting and Management, were commissioned to provide Sierra Leone’s National Tourist Board with an international Marketing and Rebranding Strategy, funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank. The marketing and branding strategy and action plan delivered a roadmap to build a positive narrative for the country, improve the destination’s position, and increase the value of the tourism sector. The Journey-Acorn team also initiated the digital marketing campaign and advised on the domestic marketing campaign.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023
  5. Place Brand and Destination Management Plan for Melton Mowbray
    Acorn, working with thinkingplace, developed the Melton Story, Destination Management Plan and Place Brand, based on a robust destination assessment and extensive stakeholder engagement, to provide Melton Mowbray with the direction for a strategic, innovative and joined up approach to Melton’s future development.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023
  6. Green Business Toolkit for Thanet
    An online toolkit for businesses to understand what simple steps they could take to start/continue their journey towards sustainability, learn more about the biodiversity crisis and the commitment to Net Zero, find inspiration from successful local examples, find out about interesting resources available to them (training, financial support, etc.) and discover options for global recognition of their efforts.
    1. 1 Jan 202331 Dec 2023

"Acorn Tourism has produced multiple tourism research projects for the CBI including tourism sector Value Chain Analysis and niche market studies for SMEs in developing countries.  They are a very solid research partner and always deliver to great satisfaction."

Arthur Scheinhardt
Programme Manager Marketing Intelligence, CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Agency
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Blogs

Navigating a Circular Economy: challenges and opportunities for island based MSME accommodation providers

Navigating a Circular Economy: challenges and opportunities for island based MSME accommodation providers

The use of circular economy concepts for hospitality businesses has been on the rise in recent years and is a useful way to reduce the environmental impact of their operational practices. In 2022 Acorn Tourism worked with Buro Happold on a World Bank funded project ‘Circular and Resilient Tourism on Small Islands and in Coastal Destinations’. For this project we travelled to Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and Principe and The Gambia to engage with the private sector to better understand the current opportunities and constraints they face in developing a circular economy model.

Big and small data infographic

Making sense of big and small data for destinations

Read time: 5 mins

More and more we are hearing that big data has all the answers that destinations are looking for when trying to understand what visitors are doing, where they are going, how much they are spending and so on.  This sounds enticing and useful.  But is it?

Overtourism

Using Data to Avoid Overtourism: Creating Smarter Destinations

Read time: 2 mins

Pre-pandemic, the term overtourism was being increasingly used as popular destinations struggled to cope with demand.  It was seldom spoken about in 2021 when focus shifted to encouraging visitors out of their homes to travel freely again, and breathing life back into economies and businesses. 

Business and Marketing: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management

Business and Marketing: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management

Read time: 1 mins

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Acorn Tourism Climate Action Plan

Celebrating Milestones, Awards, Longstanding Relationships and Our Continued Support to Sustainable Tourism Development

Read time: 4 mins

The beginning of 2023 has been a busy one, not only are we celebrating our big 21st Birthday in February, but we have also been awarded with a Green Tourism Gold Award for our ongoing commitment towards sustainability, within our office and operations.  We have also just released or Green Climate Action Plan for 2023, a requirement as a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration. The Glasgow Declaration was launched at COP 26, with the commitment, alongside many other tourism stakeholders, to halve our emissions by 2030.

Social Wellbeing

Social Well-being: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management

Read time: 1 min

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Culture and Traditions: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Culture and Traditions: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Read time: 1 min

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Environment and Climate: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Environment and Climate: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Read time: 2 mins

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Nature and Conservation: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Nature and Conservation: What are the next steps towards sustainable destination management?

Read time: 1 min

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Organisation and Planning: What are the next steps for sustainable destination development?

Organisation and Planning: What are the next steps for sustainable destination development?

Read time: 1 min

Sustainable destination management can be challenging, and it may sometimes be difficult to know where to start. From reducing GHG emissions, becoming nature-positive, supporting local businesses, managing waste, water and energy efficiently, etc., destination managers have a lot of responsibilities. All the while marketing and positioning their destination to attract visitors and satisfy their expectations.

Influencer Marketing - the fastest growing trend within the Tourism Industry

Influencer Marketing - the fastest growing trend within the Tourism Industry

Read time: 2 mins

The trend of Influencer marketing has taken off in the last decade and is currently one of the fastest growing activities within the digital marketing space. The movement has been on the rise due to the growth of social media and the influence of word-of-mouth marketing. For marketers “brands are no longer what companies tell consumers but rather what consumers tell each other”.

World Tourism Day, Re-Thinking Tourism

World Tourism Day, Re-Thinking Tourism

Read time: 2 mins

As we celebrate the UNWTO’s World Tourism Day with the theme ‘Re-Thinking Tourism’, one can’t help but look back at the highs and (many) lows that the Tourism Industry has experienced over the last three years. And, although the lows were very low, we must look to the future and be thankful in a way that tourism did slow for a small while, as it gave us the unique and needed opportunity and realisation that there was a dire need for the tourism industry to stop and ‘re-think’ its future development.

How can you grow your business with online bookings?

How can you grow your business with online bookings?

Read time: 1 min

Online bookings are increasingly popular as they provide a convenient, trustworthy experience for customers, allowing them to book services from anywhere at any time, with real time information, while having full control over the experience.

Everything you need to know about using a website to grow your business.

Everything you need to know about using a website to grow your business.

Read time: 1 min

Your website is the face of your business, and a powerful tool to connect with your customers, present your products and services and grow your business. A great website can make or break your business. It is increasingly becoming essential for customers to find out about your business.

Courses to help boost your knowledge on Sustainable Tourism

Courses to help boost your knowledge on Sustainable Tourism

Read time: 3 mins

Here at Acorn Tourism Consulting, we believe in the strength of working together to build a greater sustainable future for the tourism sector and beyond. We have been promoting some sustainable tourism through our social media platforms and decided that it would be helpful to also collate them all into one blog.

Bellhurst  Trust Carbon offsetting East Sussex

Acorn Supports Carbon Offsetting and Local Biodiversity Projects

Read time: 1 minute

As part of our journey towards carbon neutrality to help compensate our emissions we already support a flight offsetting charity called Atmosfair.   Our donations provide efficient cooking stoves in Lesotho which save 80% of energy, produce less smoke and avoids deforestation reducing the need for firewood.  We chose this charity in Lesotho as we have worked there and work regularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Sustainability Competitions

Which global competitions would suit your business or initiative?

Read time: 2 min

Alongside sustainability certification, there has been a growing number of competitions arising throughout the travel industry around sustainable development and growth. Some of these competitions help to promote businesses and initiatives, whilst others provide funding and support to help organisations prosper and grow in a sustainable and regenerative manner.

Can email newsletter help you grow your business?

Can email newsletter help you grow your business?

Read time: 1 min

It is good business practice to keep in regular contact with contacts on your database and email newsletters, which are easy and cheap to produce, are the best way of doing this.  Broadly, email newsletters are the first step towards generating a sale at some point in the future.

The one magic sentence that will ensure you are doing it right

The one magic sentence that will ensure you are doing it right

Read time: 2 mins

Some may tell you that there is no magic potion for success in business, whatever industry, or sector one is working in. We disagree. There is one principle that, if followed, will almost always bring success: ...

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Contact us

3 Woodland Enterprise Centre, Hastings Road,
Flimwell, East Sussex, TN5 7PR, UK

+44 (0) 1580 879970

contact@acorntourism.co.uk