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Mayor Gordon Oliver has come out with surprise plans to merge the activities of the newly formed English Riviera Tourism Company (ERTC) and the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC), whilst retaining the existing RICC building, on which there were development plans.


Detail is scant on where the money, estimated at £2m, is coming from to repair the RICC building and how the ongoing annual losses understood to be in the region of £700k will be funded. Or why a ‘Hilton led’ development of RICC and presence in the Bay is seen by Mr Oliver as sending out the wrong signals about Torbay’s tourism capabilities.


There is further confusion with the claim that merger of RICC and ERTC  will save £100k in director’s salaries, when the only paid director of ERTC is the chief executive, whose salary package was advertised at £45k just a few months ago. Where within RICC will Mr Oliver’s axe fall to achieve his target?


A contrary claim that 137 jobs are safeguarded probably takes no account of jobs that could have been created by Hilton.


However it is true to say that putting structural and funding issues aside the RICC is a well managed and run and great asset for Torbay and this point must not be lost in defence of RICC.


Whilst the specifics are odd to say the least, the wider concern for tourism businesses has to be what will happen to the ERTC. Having just set the organisation up, given it a plan and charted a course, this will throw unsettlement and confusion into the ranks.


There was no mention of these proposals in Gordon Oliver’s election addresses, where he did  promise a yet to be seen £300k in additional marketing money for the Bay. And it seems we have what was also denigrated of the previous regime, a proposal from top down, to argue over the detail, rather than a considered proposal from a consensus.


Tourism in Torbay needs clear, progressive marketing and leadership and this may now sadly take a back seat as positions are argued and divisions reopened in making a new way forward.




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Link to the English Riviera Tourism Company website
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Proposal to Retain the RICC and Combine with the ERTC