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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

Riverfront in Copenhagen, Denmark

Helping tourism businesses innovate and stimulate the visitor economy

Remote hills and valleys in Lesotho, Africa

More than twenty years of sustainable tourism development for destinations worldwide

Welcome to Acorn Tourism Consulting

What We Do

  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.
  7. Show More
Acorn Logo

Acorn Tourism Consulting has:

  1. Successfully completed
    328
    projects
  2. Enjoyed working with
    169
    clients
  3. Delivered projects in
    85
    countries
  4. Served the sector for
    22
    years

Where We Work

View map

Number of results: 349

, currently showing 261 to 280.

  1. The Ashdown Forest Centre is home to the Conservators of Ashdown Forest and an information point for visitor. Acorn Tourism’s business plan looked at

    Address

    East Sussex, United Kingdom, Ashdown Forest Conservators

    Telephone

    15000

    Ashdown Forest Conservators,

    Workable options for improving the Visitor Centre had to consider tight planning restrictions, limited budgets and the potential to move sites. Acorn’s Business Plan delivered pragmatic options that were acted upon by the Project Development…

  2. Certified Hotel in England

    Address

    VisitEngland, SW1W 9SZ

    Telephone

    12000

    VisitEngland,

    Research was undertaken for VisitEngland to help them understand the current state of sustainability within the tourism industry in England and to guide the development of their sustainability strategy.

  3. Tourism Indicator Target Setting Services for Namibia

    Address

    Namibia, Millennium Challenge Corporation

    Telephone

    12000

    Millennium Challenge Corporation,

    Development of a project tracking tool for the Millennium Challenge Account team in Namibia to determine the impact of their various tourism sector projects on visitor arrivals and activities in the country.

  4. The Seven Sisters on the Sussex coast is Wealden’s honeypot site and important for the District’s Destination Management Plan

    Address

    Wealden, United Kingdom, Wealden District Council

    Telephone

    18655

    Wealden District Council ,

    A robust analysis of Wealden’s visitor economy was undertaken to inform the next tourism strategy and marketing action plan. It was clear that increased business engagement was a priority to ensure a collaborative approach to creating and delivering…

  5. Data Warehouse for Local Tourism Data in England

    Address

    London, United Kingdom, Visit England

    Telephone

    26000

    Visit England,

    Study for the design and development of an online database to store a wide range of tourism statistics from Visit England’s surveys, as well as from other bodies, into a system that could be interrogated easily to generate useful reports for…

  6. Chesterfield markets

    Address

    Chesterfield, UK, Chesterfield Borough Council, Destination Chesterfield

    Telephone

    15000

    Chesterfield Borough Council, Destination Chesterfield,

    Acorn Tourism conducted robust primary and secondary research to help support a new project to develop and encourage short breaks in Chesterfield.

  7. Feasibility Study of a Desert Resort in Saudi Arabia

    Address

    Saudi Arabia, Private Client

    Telephone

    75000

    Private Client,

    Market feasibility study for a luxury resort targeting the Saudi and expatriate markets in the country. This included identifying the best location for the resort based on available infrastructure and proximity to the markets. The study also…

  8. Volunteering with children is a popular activity in developing countries

    Address

    United Kingdom, CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Centre

    Telephone

    5000

    CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Centre,

    A comprehensive market research study into the Volunteer and Educational tourism market and how it is positioned within the broader global tourism industry.

  9. Oman Annual Brand Awareness Research

    Address

    Oman, Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman

    Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman,

    This project involved annual brand awareness research for the Oman Ministry of Tourism’s UK office, led by Acorn Tourism, to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and understand UK consumer perceptions. Through online surveys and…

  10. Walking, Cycling and Equestrian Short Break Itineraries

    Address

    Hampshire, United Kingdom, Rural Ways, Tourism South East

    Telephone

    10000

    Rural Ways, Tourism South East,

    Nine short break outdoor activity itineraries were developed in Kent, West Sussex and Hampshire Tourism South East’s Rural Ways website. The itineraries promoted walking, cycling, equestrian activities, where to stay, eat, drink, buy local produce…

  11. National Tourism Information System Review in Ghana

    Address

    Ghana, Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO, UNDP

    Telephone

    15000

    Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO, UNDP,

    Review of Ghana's proposed tourism database that aimed to link regional tourism offices with the head office in Accra. Improvements to the proposed system were recommended, including a system of regional data collection.

  12. Leisure Opportunities at Uttoxeter Gravel Pits

    Address

    East Staffordshire, United Kingdom, East Staffordshire Borough Council

    Telephone

    42000

    East Staffordshire Borough Council,

    This feasibility study was commissioned to identify the potential of a gravel pit site as a tourism and leisure destination to provide recreation facilities for local and sub-regional visitors. It also required the design and costing of realistic…

  13. Eastern Caribbean Blue Tourism

    Address

    Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, World Bank, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

    Telephone

    140000

    World Bank, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States,

    This project was designed to assist the development of a World Bank lending operation Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Eastern Caribbean (UBEEC) and also inform the OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project (ORTCP) by identifying the key…

  14. TRIP Scheme, Falkland Islands

    Address

    Falkland Islands, Falkand Islands Tourist Board

    Telephone

    5000

    Falkand Islands Tourist Board,

    The Tourism Recovery Incentive Programme (TRIP) was part of the Falkland Island Government’s solution to supporting both the tourism sector and residents of the Falkland Islands during the COVID-19 lockdown season of October 2020 to May 2021. The…

  15. Sierra Leone National Tourist Board website Explore Freedom branding

    Address

    Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, World Bank and Ministry of Trade

    Telephone

    225000

    Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, World Bank and Ministry of Trade,

    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…

  16. Wine tasting in Wine Cellars

    Address

    Worldwide, Mintel

    Telephone

    2500

    Mintel ,

    Specialist niche market report on wine tourism around the world that examines the state of the global wine market and how wine tourism has become a key component of the industry as wineries strive to diversify beyond production.

  17. Assessment of the Visitor Economy in Bedfordshire

    Address

    Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, Experience Bedfordshire

    Telephone

    15000

    Experience Bedfordshire,

    By undertaking a survey of tourism sector businesses in Bedfordshire, an assessment was made of the importance of tourism in the area. An estimate was also made of visitor expenditure, bed nights, and tourism employment in the county.

  18. Dunes in Namibia

    Address

    Namibia, Namibia Tourism Board

    Telephone

    180000

    Namibia Tourism Board,

    Design and implementation of a domestic tourism survey in Namibia to assess the scope and economic impact of domestic travel. Included design of the survey, interviewer training, pilot testing, tracking a 3,000 household survey, analysis and…

  19. Soudah Destination Sustainability Strategy

    Address

    Asir Province, Saudi Arabia, Soudah Development Company, Saudi PIF

    Telephone

    100000

    Soudah Development Company, Saudi PIF,

    The primary objective of the Soudah Development Destination Sustainability Strategy was to provide Soudah Development with minimum sustainability criteria for application to the entire tourism sector based on the Global Sustainably Tourism Council’s…

  20. Mongolia nomadic caravan

    Address

    Mongolia, CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Agency

    Telephone

    20000

    CBI, Netherlands Enterprise Agency,

    The Minister needed advice on how Mongolia’s cultural tourism offer could meet internationally sustainable tourism guidelines and benefit remote and rural communities. We identified products to attract visitors from France, Germany, Japan, Russia…

Acorn Logo

Featured Projects

  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 202531 Dec 2025
  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 202531 Dec 2025
  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 202531 Dec 2025
  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 202531 Dec 2025
  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 202531 Dec 2025
  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 202531 Dec 2025
  7. Show More

"I have worked with many consultants during my career, and Acorn has been one of the top in their professionalism, commitment, and passion to get the job done right...for the right reasons! Highly recommended..."

Brian Ross
In-country management for UNREDD, Zambia
Acorn Logo

Blogs

  • Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Read time: 2 mins

    Making the transition to a sustainable business is no longer just a trend. It is now an urgent and essential task to tackle the climate crisis and meet the commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Tourism is a major contributor to global climate change and the sector is forecast to grow over the coming years. To manage tourism growth responsibly, urgent steps are required.

  • 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

    Read time: 4 mins

    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?

  • Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Ambition becomes action when you can measure it, and that’s exactly what a Business Sector Sustainability Scan (BSSS) enables. It provides destinations with data on how local tourism businesses perform against Green Destinations' Good Travel Scan criteria. With this evidence, you can focus time and budget on the issues that matter most.

  • 2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    Read Time: 4 Minutes

    As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a transformative year for Acorn Tourism. 2024 was marked by impactful projects, meaningful collaborations, and new opportunities to advance sustainable tourism worldwide. It’s been a year of growth and innovation, and we’re excited to share some of the highlights with you.

  • Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Read Time: 6 minutes

    At Acorn Tourism Consulting, we’ve seen how sustainable tourism can transform destinations—enhancing the environment, uplifting communities, and driving long-term economic benefits. Through our work with destinations and tour operators across diverse regions and our ongoing research into niche markets, we help operators diversify their offerings, generate local spend, and lead the way in responsible tourism.

  • How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    Read time: 4 mins

    Exploring the Depths: What is Diving Tourism?

    Diving tourism is a growing segment within adventure travel, offering experiences that bring travellers up close to marine life and underwater landscapes like coral reefs, shipwrecks, and unique marine habitats. It’s an industry that appeals to millions worldwide, with around 6 million Europeans actively participating in diving activities. As interest surges, destinations globally are tailoring their offerings to meet the demand for high-quality, sustainable dive experiences.

    Countries like the UK, France, and Germany lead the European dive tourism market, with divers seeking opportunities to experience new underwater ecosystems. For many, dive tourism is not just a hobby but an immersive journey that promotes awareness and respect for marine environments. But for the industry to thrive, it must prioritize protecting these environments from overuse and degradation. 

  • Agritourism

    Agritourism: A Path to Food Security, Cultural Heritage Recovery, and Peacebuilding

    Read time: 2 mins

    Agritourism is more than just a niche market where travelers visit farms and taste local food, it can also be a powerful tool for empowering communities, especially in underdeveloped regions. By focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and local gastronomy, agritourism helps preserve cultural heritage, build food security, and even contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict areas.

  • LGBTQ+ Balloon

    Attracting the LGBTQ+ market

    Read time: 2 mins

    The LQBTQ+ travel market is on the rise due to the increasing acceptance of the community worldwide and increasing numbers of Gen Y and Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+. While many countries still have restrictions and laws that make it difficult for the LGBTQ+ community to travel to, many others have grown in tolerance and acceptance, making travel safe and welcoming for this target group.

  • Overtourism is damaging destinations

    Addressing Overtourism - A Strategic Approach

    Read time: 3 mins

    Overtourism has become a pressing concern for many popular destinations worldwide. The news is flooded with headlines of residents protesting visitors as the numbers rise for summer.

  • Solo Travel

    Unlocking the potential of the European solo tourism market

    Read time: 2 mins

    The solo tourism market is booming with solo travellers now making up 18% of global tourism bookings and they are a growing audience eager to explore independently. To tap into this dynamic market, it’s crucial to understand the motivations, preferences, and behaviours of solo travellers.

  • Certification schemes for UK businesses

    Which sustainability certification is best for your business?

    Read time: 1 min

    Many businesses have been asking this question due to a notable surge in recent times in consumers seeking sustainable products. This trend is particularly evident in the tourism industry, where research indicates a growing preference for sustainable options. However, issues arise around where consumers can find such products without businesses providing evidence of their impacts.

  • 2024: our year so far

    2024: our year so far

    Read time: 2 mins

    This year, we have both worked in both new and familiar destinations. New destinations include Thailand, Tajikistan, and Sint Maarten. We have continued our work in Jordan and started a new project in The Gambia, a country we worked in a couple of years ago. Our sister company T-Stats has also had a very exciting year with a new project for the Southwest of England.

  • Generations BLog

    A snapshot of the different generations in travel

    Read time: 2 mins

    Understanding different generations' travel preferences and traits is crucial when tailoring and selling your product or destination. Each generation has very different travel preferences and interests, and understanding these is essential to making good business decisions.

    This blog highlights each generation's critical expectations when making travel decisions.

  • Empowering sustainable tourism

    Leading from the top: how tourism boards can drive the sector towards a more sustainable future

    Read time: 4 mins

    Tourism boards, both national and regional can play a vital role in supporting their destinations sustainable development. Historically, the traditional role of a tourism board was to market the destination, helping to grow visitor numbers and spending as the main goal. However, with the growing interest and need for the tourism industry to increase its sustainability practices tourism boards must take a more strategic approach. This includes shifting from a streamlined focus on marketing and putting emphasis on research, analysis, development and planning for the destination’s future development.

  • ITB Berlin 2024: Sustainability, Aqaba and Awards

    ITB Berlin 2024: Sustainability, Aqaba and Awards

    Read time: 1 min

    In early March, Director Alison Burgh travelled to ITB Berlin by train as part of Acorn Tourism’s ongoing CBI project work in Jordan. As always, it was a busy few days packed with meetings, awards and some extremely exciting milestones for Aqaba, Jordan.

  • Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Read time: 2 mins

    Making the transition to a sustainable business is no longer just a trend. It is now an urgent and essential task to tackle the climate crisis and meet the commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Tourism is a major contributor to global climate change and the sector is forecast to grow over the coming years. To manage tourism growth responsibly, urgent steps are required.

  • 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

    Read time: 4 mins

    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?

  • Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Ambition becomes action when you can measure it, and that’s exactly what a Business Sector Sustainability Scan (BSSS) enables. It provides destinations with data on how local tourism businesses perform against Green Destinations' Good Travel Scan criteria. With this evidence, you can focus time and budget on the issues that matter most.

  • 2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    Read Time: 4 Minutes

    As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a transformative year for Acorn Tourism. 2024 was marked by impactful projects, meaningful collaborations, and new opportunities to advance sustainable tourism worldwide. It’s been a year of growth and innovation, and we’re excited to share some of the highlights with you.

  • Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Read Time: 6 minutes

    At Acorn Tourism Consulting, we’ve seen how sustainable tourism can transform destinations—enhancing the environment, uplifting communities, and driving long-term economic benefits. Through our work with destinations and tour operators across diverse regions and our ongoing research into niche markets, we help operators diversify their offerings, generate local spend, and lead the way in responsible tourism.

  • How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    Read time: 4 mins

    Exploring the Depths: What is Diving Tourism?

    Diving tourism is a growing segment within adventure travel, offering experiences that bring travellers up close to marine life and underwater landscapes like coral reefs, shipwrecks, and unique marine habitats. It’s an industry that appeals to millions worldwide, with around 6 million Europeans actively participating in diving activities. As interest surges, destinations globally are tailoring their offerings to meet the demand for high-quality, sustainable dive experiences.

    Countries like the UK, France, and Germany lead the European dive tourism market, with divers seeking opportunities to experience new underwater ecosystems. For many, dive tourism is not just a hobby but an immersive journey that promotes awareness and respect for marine environments. But for the industry to thrive, it must prioritize protecting these environments from overuse and degradation. 

  • Agritourism

    Agritourism: A Path to Food Security, Cultural Heritage Recovery, and Peacebuilding

    Read time: 2 mins

    Agritourism is more than just a niche market where travelers visit farms and taste local food, it can also be a powerful tool for empowering communities, especially in underdeveloped regions. By focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and local gastronomy, agritourism helps preserve cultural heritage, build food security, and even contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict areas.

  • Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Why a Business Sector Sustainability Scan is the Smart First Move

    Ambition becomes action when you can measure it, and that’s exactly what a Business Sector Sustainability Scan (BSSS) enables. It provides destinations with data on how local tourism businesses perform against Green Destinations' Good Travel Scan criteria. With this evidence, you can focus time and budget on the issues that matter most.

  • 2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    2024 in Review: Acorn Tourism’s Sustainable Journey and What’s Next

    Read Time: 4 Minutes

    As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a transformative year for Acorn Tourism. 2024 was marked by impactful projects, meaningful collaborations, and new opportunities to advance sustainable tourism worldwide. It’s been a year of growth and innovation, and we’re excited to share some of the highlights with you.

  • Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Delivering Sustainable Tourism: Insights for Inbound Tour Operators

    Read Time: 6 minutes

    At Acorn Tourism Consulting, we’ve seen how sustainable tourism can transform destinations—enhancing the environment, uplifting communities, and driving long-term economic benefits. Through our work with destinations and tour operators across diverse regions and our ongoing research into niche markets, we help operators diversify their offerings, generate local spend, and lead the way in responsible tourism.

  • How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    How Dive Tourism Drives Sustainability and Conservation

    Read time: 4 mins

    Exploring the Depths: What is Diving Tourism?

    Diving tourism is a growing segment within adventure travel, offering experiences that bring travellers up close to marine life and underwater landscapes like coral reefs, shipwrecks, and unique marine habitats. It’s an industry that appeals to millions worldwide, with around 6 million Europeans actively participating in diving activities. As interest surges, destinations globally are tailoring their offerings to meet the demand for high-quality, sustainable dive experiences.

    Countries like the UK, France, and Germany lead the European dive tourism market, with divers seeking opportunities to experience new underwater ecosystems. For many, dive tourism is not just a hobby but an immersive journey that promotes awareness and respect for marine environments. But for the industry to thrive, it must prioritize protecting these environments from overuse and degradation. 

  • Agritourism

    Agritourism: A Path to Food Security, Cultural Heritage Recovery, and Peacebuilding

    Read time: 2 mins

    Agritourism is more than just a niche market where travelers visit farms and taste local food, it can also be a powerful tool for empowering communities, especially in underdeveloped regions. By focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and local gastronomy, agritourism helps preserve cultural heritage, build food security, and even contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict areas.

  • LGBTQ+ Balloon

    Attracting the LGBTQ+ market

    Read time: 2 mins

    The LQBTQ+ travel market is on the rise due to the increasing acceptance of the community worldwide and increasing numbers of Gen Y and Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+. While many countries still have restrictions and laws that make it difficult for the LGBTQ+ community to travel to, many others have grown in tolerance and acceptance, making travel safe and welcoming for this target group.

  • Overtourism is damaging destinations

    Addressing Overtourism - A Strategic Approach

    Read time: 3 mins

    Overtourism has become a pressing concern for many popular destinations worldwide. The news is flooded with headlines of residents protesting visitors as the numbers rise for summer.

  • Solo Travel

    Unlocking the potential of the European solo tourism market

    Read time: 2 mins

    The solo tourism market is booming with solo travellers now making up 18% of global tourism bookings and they are a growing audience eager to explore independently. To tap into this dynamic market, it’s crucial to understand the motivations, preferences, and behaviours of solo travellers.

  • Certification schemes for UK businesses

    Which sustainability certification is best for your business?

    Read time: 1 min

    Many businesses have been asking this question due to a notable surge in recent times in consumers seeking sustainable products. This trend is particularly evident in the tourism industry, where research indicates a growing preference for sustainable options. However, issues arise around where consumers can find such products without businesses providing evidence of their impacts.

  • 2024: our year so far

    2024: our year so far

    Read time: 2 mins

    This year, we have both worked in both new and familiar destinations. New destinations include Thailand, Tajikistan, and Sint Maarten. We have continued our work in Jordan and started a new project in The Gambia, a country we worked in a couple of years ago. Our sister company T-Stats has also had a very exciting year with a new project for the Southwest of England.

  • Generations BLog

    A snapshot of the different generations in travel

    Read time: 2 mins

    Understanding different generations' travel preferences and traits is crucial when tailoring and selling your product or destination. Each generation has very different travel preferences and interests, and understanding these is essential to making good business decisions.

    This blog highlights each generation's critical expectations when making travel decisions.

  • Empowering sustainable tourism

    Leading from the top: how tourism boards can drive the sector towards a more sustainable future

    Read time: 4 mins

    Tourism boards, both national and regional can play a vital role in supporting their destinations sustainable development. Historically, the traditional role of a tourism board was to market the destination, helping to grow visitor numbers and spending as the main goal. However, with the growing interest and need for the tourism industry to increase its sustainability practices tourism boards must take a more strategic approach. This includes shifting from a streamlined focus on marketing and putting emphasis on research, analysis, development and planning for the destination’s future development.

  • ITB Berlin 2024: Sustainability, Aqaba and Awards

    ITB Berlin 2024: Sustainability, Aqaba and Awards

    Read time: 1 min

    In early March, Director Alison Burgh travelled to ITB Berlin by train as part of Acorn Tourism’s ongoing CBI project work in Jordan. As always, it was a busy few days packed with meetings, awards and some extremely exciting milestones for Aqaba, Jordan.

  • Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Key trends in tourism for 2024 spearheaded by sustainability and regeneration

    Read time: 2 mins

    Making the transition to a sustainable business is no longer just a trend. It is now an urgent and essential task to tackle the climate crisis and meet the commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Tourism is a major contributor to global climate change and the sector is forecast to grow over the coming years. To manage tourism growth responsibly, urgent steps are required.

  • 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

    Read time: 4 mins

    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?

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    Flimwell, East Sussex, TN5 7PR, UK

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