The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has opened a consultation on the Independent Review of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). 

Consultation description 

The government has commissioned an independent review of England’s DMOs. The review is led by Nick de Bois (Chair of VisitEngland), with support from an expert panel. A full programme of evidence-gathering, meetings and interviews is already underway and the review will examine the extent to which the current DMO landscape:

  • is economically efficient, effective and sustainable (with regard to funding, structure and performance)
  • best enables the government to meet its leisure and business tourism policy objectives at a national, regional and local level
  • engages within the wider local and regional economic landscape, and the current focus on English devolution and levelling up.

The review will make recommendations on:

  • whether DMOs might be structured or funded differently, and if so how any proposals might maximise post-COVID-19 recovery and long-term success
  • what the role of DMOs should be, bearing in mind existing other local structures such as Local Enterprise Partnerships, Mayoral Combined Authorities, local authorities and other similar local/regional bodies, and where these might intersect
  • how DMOs should best engage with, and be engaged by, VisitEngland, VisitBritain and DCMS, as well as wider government/public bodies where relevant (e.g. Arts Council England; UK Sport)

If you are interested in how tourism works and is structured in different places in England, your thoughts and opinions could help inform and improve the findings.

  • Opens: 18 March 2021
  • Closes: 28 April 2021

Find out more about the consultation here NB not all questions will be relevant to every respondent.