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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

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

Where We Work

Number of results: 329

, currently showing 261 to 280.

  1. Address

    Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands Tourist Board

    Telephone

    5000

    Falkland Islands Tourist Board,

    To monitor the tourism sector and enable regular and up-to-date reporting of visitor arrivals, the Falkland Islands Tourist Board contracted Acorn T-Stats in 2011 to implement our online tourism statistics tracking system for the Islands.

  2. Address

    Worldwide, Mintel

    Telephone

    2500

    Mintel,

    A niche market report examining the range of activities associated with underwater tourism, the global value of the market, the major destinations, the benefits of tourism to coastal communities and long term impacts to habitats and marine life.

  3. Address

    London, United Kingdom, Private Insurance Company

    Telephone

    12000

    Private Insurance Company,

    Risk assessment for Launch PR (with the lead client being an insurance company) to determine the risks of dying on 10 different types of holiday. A model was developed and loaded with risk coefficients that enabled the calculation of the odds on…

  4. Address

    Lesotho, Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank

    Telephone

    46000

    Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank,

    Study to assess the existing system of tourism statistics and make recommendations to develop them into a robust set of surveys, analysis and reporting activities. The study also determined the readiness in Lesotho for the development of a first…

  5. Address

    Lesotho, Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank

    Telephone

    120000

    Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank,

    Design and implementation of a 6,000 sample visitor exit survey for Lesotho using electronic data capture through iPads donated by Acorn. The project also included the implementation of an online business barometer survey to track sentiment in the…

  6. Address

    United Kingdom, South Downs National Park Authority (SNDPA)

    Telephone

    30000

    South Downs National Park Authority (SNDPA),

    A project that assessed the impact on the environment and cultural heritage that visitors have when they visit the South Downs National Park. Issues found were mostly localised and reversible, but visitor management and education were highlighted as…

  7. 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…

  8. 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…

  9. Address

    London, United Kingdom, Hackney Council

    Telephone

    26500

    Hackney Council,

    Abney Park is one of London’s Magnificent Seven Cemeteries. Visitor surveys, stakeholder consultations and a competitor analysis, combined with an in-depth understanding of heritage of this unique woodland cemetery in Hackney, helped to identify…

  10. Address

    Barbados, Caribbean Tourism Organisation

    Telephone

    26000

    Caribbean Tourism Organisation,

    Study commissioned by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) to research and produce 20 detailed niche segment reports, each of which focussed on specific tourism activities that were considered the primary reason for travel; these included bird…

  11. Address

    Seychelles, Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO

    Telephone

    48000

    Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO,

    Assessment of the system of tourism statistics, and design and development of an airport exit survey and cruise visitor survey, leading to the development of a tourism satellite account. The study included extensive training with staff in the…

  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

    Lesotho, Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank

    Telephone

    22000

    Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation, World Bank,

    The purpose of this study was to establish the tourism products that Lesotho had to offer, in particular for the cultural and activity tourism markets, and identify ways of targeting and marketing to domestic, South African and international…

  14. Address

    Saudi Arabia, Private Client

    Telephone

    76000

    Private Client,

    Business study to assess the viability of a tour operating company that would focus on the international umrah market for inbound travel to Saudi Arabia.

  15. Address

    Botswana, European Commission, Department of Tourism Botswana

    Telephone

    21000

    European Commission, Department of Tourism Botswana,

    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…

  16. Address

    Worldwide, Mintel

    Telephone

    2500

    Mintel,

    Specialist niche market report that looks as Music Festival Tourism Worldwide, explores the current music festival scene, profiles a music festival tourist and the benefits of the festival sector, and what’s next for the industry.

  17. Address

    Ethiopia, Great Ethiopian Run plc

    Telephone

    10000

    Great Ethiopian Run plc,

    Acorn worked with the Great Ethiopian Run, Africa's biggest road race, to produce a 3-year digital marketing strategy to increase international participation. This involved 4 high-profile travel influencers participating in the race and generating a…

  18. Address

    Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, People’s Committee for Tourism, UNWTO

    Telephone

    42000

    People’s Committee for Tourism, UNWTO,

    Study to provide a series of interventions over two years to assist with the development of a system of tourism statistics and to assess the growth of tourism in the country under various development scenarios.

  19. Address

    Isle of Man, United Kingdom, Isle of Man Goverment

    Telephone

    5000

    Isle of Man Goverment,

    Visit Isle of Man is the Destination Management Organisation for the Isle of Man, a popular holiday and business destination located almost equidistant between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Visit Isle of Man contracted Acorn T-Stats in 2015…

  20. Address

    Tanzania, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics

    Telephone

    24000

    Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics,

    Development of a tourism satellite account for Tanzania. The account was based on existing data, and therefore the identification of data limitations was a key part of the study so that the system of statistics could be improved for future…

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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 202431 Dec 2024
  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 202431 Dec 2024
  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 202431 Dec 2024
  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 202431 Dec 2024
  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 202431 Dec 2024
  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 202431 Dec 2024

"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

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?

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.

News

News

October 2024

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January 2024

December 2023

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October 2023

September 2023

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June 2023

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April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

September 2022

July 2022

June 2022

March 2022

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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