From now on, the promotion of tourism in Southwest Drenthe will be handled by one organization. The municipal regional marketing of Westerveld, De Wolden, Hoogeveen and Meppel will be brought under the independent umbrella organization of Area Promotion Southwest Drenthe, with an office at the De Poort outdoor center in Ruinen.
The collaboration in the golden triangle of national parks was concluded on Wednesday evening during the kick-off of the tourist season in the Huis van Drenthe in Dwingeloo. More than 150 entrepreneurs met there, also to exchange the new brochures and network at the same time. “We are finally going to pull the cart together,” Mayor Rikus Jager said beforehand. An attempt has been made before to set up such a joint organization in the past, but a marriage could not be concluded.
“But now the four municipalities have been working together for three years and it has gone so well that it has been decided to merge all local foundations,” explains Ingrid Mascini. “The tourist knows no municipal boundaries and cycles from the Dwingelderveld to the Colonies of Benevolence and visits Meppel Day on Thursday. Instead of each municipality having to do everything itself, this can now be done for the entire golden triangle of national parks in southwest Drenthe.” In addition to the Dwingelderveld and the Drents-Friese Wold, this also means Weerribben-Wieden. One of the objectives is to keep visitors in the area longer.
Improved hosting
According to Mascini, who has been appointed as regional manager at the new organization for six hours a week, a new organization is better for tourists. The provision of information and hospitality towards guests will be improved. “We will now jointly organize meetings, area safaris and courses, but also create cycling and walking maps together; This way, everyone doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel individually. This also results in savings because we work more efficiently. Entrepreneurs from a larger area learn from each other,” emphasizes Mascini, who owns a marketing agency in Ruinerwold. A start was made on Wednesday with ‘first dates’ between entrepreneurs who did not yet know each other.
The new organization is not intended to attract tourists to Drenthe, that is the task of Marketing Drenthe. “We ensure the distribution of tourists and tourist information.” The provincial border is also being looked at. “We will work more intensively with Weerribben-Wieden and see what we can do for each other. We plan to take a look at the neighbors with Drenthe recreation entrepreneurs. Of course, many guests go to Giethoorn, but do they also know Blokzijl?” The aim is also to strengthen the connection with the Vechtdal, the Colonies of Benevolence, the Reestdal, Central Drenthe and South-East Friesland.
Greatest contribution
The municipality of Westerveld is the largest factor in the organizational model because it has the largest number of visitors. That is why Westerveld is the only one to provide two board members, while Meppel, De Wolden and Hoogeveen make do with one. It also means that Westerveld makes the largest contribution, namely 90,000 euros. De Wolden contributes 55,000 euros per year, Hoogeveen 40 grand and Meppel 20 grand. Entrepreneurs are expected to contribute a total of 30,000 euros. In total, the costs are estimated at 235,000 euros.
In addition to the regional manager for 6 hours per week, which may be a temporary position to start up the organization in two years, two part-time regional coordinators have been appointed for 24 and 28 hours per week, as well as a TIP service point coordinator for 24 hours per week. .
Westerveld’s concept of Tourist info points is being rolled out throughout Southwest Drenthe
The concept of the new Tourist Info Points in the municipality of Westerveld will be followed, said Anita Warries, regional coordinator of the new organization for Westerveld. “We have an information point in Frederiksoord and at PUUR in Diever, but now also in this House in Dwingeloo. The intention is to roll out this concept in the other four municipalities in Southwest Drenthe.”
It must be one of the consequences of the successful collaboration. The councilors of the four municipalities that have recreation and tourism in their portfolio signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday evening. Gerrie Hempen from De Wolden spoke about a kind of marriage. “Then you have a house, a tree, an animal. It is difficult to buy a house these days if you are alone, but together you can achieve much more.”
Meppel councilor Robin van Ulzen spoke of opportunities in the new collaboration. “People not only come for Meppel, but for our beautiful region. We don’t have a hotel yet, but where are they staying? In the region.” Jeroen Westendorp signed on behalf of Hoogeveen and took the opportunity to promote all activities surrounding painter Vincent van Gogh. Jacob Boonstra from the municipality of Westerveld sees that the entrepreneurs are proud of the area. “And they fully promote that, just like the many volunteers who are active here.”
Tags: Promotion tourism Southwest Drenthe joint umbrella good golden triangle national parks
