What would attract visitors to our city long term?

I accept that Gaydon is much bigger but the main difference between the two is that the Transport Museum is FREE as is The Herbert whereas it costs £34 for a family ticket to Gaydon which is beyond the reach of many people, tourists or otherwise. Only this month the Birmingham Mail stated that the Transport Museum is one of the finest attractions anywhere in the Midlands and its unique collection has been designated as a collection of national importance. I'm not sure if you live locally so you may not be aware of this. The Transport Museum definitely does attract visitors to Coventry.

You are both correct in different ways first Keith yes the car museum is not well known throughout the country, as I have been on a website for some time a garden site, where until I upload the Coventry car show on to the site explaining we have a car museum even from Hereford which comes under the West Midlands to Yorkshire, Scotland, down to Essex, Cornwall none had known we had a car museum here, hence the lack of far wide advertisment or more spread of word, quite a few said they would be taking a visit as they are car enthusiasts especially the vintage cars. Jayjob you are correct in that it's free entrance to both the transport museum which is an attraction when paying out for travel also the Herbert as nowadays with money being stopped or tight not much to live off is an attraction, to me they both need more far afield advertising in with the likes of the footy, has the Ricoh got advertisments there I don't know, Travelodge or Warwick uni, etc why can't these Herbert/car museum be included in any of our business adverts here or posters placed inside these places. I also think a festival of musicians also talent more often would be great too, as for money most musicians love to play to an audience even if it's for free and willingly travel just so they can perform, as for policing well they get paid for the footy, which a lot in this town don't like but put up with it and the noise also the fights why not a festival, when Coventry has had festivals or concerts at the Ricoh never has my wing mirror on my car been ripped off but it has on a Saturday when footy has been on 3 times.

I think you're missing the point. As you surmise, Jaytob, I don't live locally now (I haven't for 30 years) so I'm trying to demonstrate the perception of people from a good distance away from Coventry. How many people, for instance, elsewhere - or even in Coventry itself - know about Coventry's watchmaking past? Not many, I'll bet! Likewise silk weaving. Yet these were major industries of national importance. I think Coventry could capitalise so much better on it's great history, and I'm sorry that it doesn't. A point worth mentioning as an example. I've spoken to toolmakers here about Alfred Herbert, and was astonished to discover that several had never even heard of what was surely one of the most famous machine tool firms ever. Does that not illustrate the issue? I've simply offered some thoughts and perceptions to try to answer the question heading this thread,"What do you think would attract visitors to our town long term?", and have done so in good faith. I'm sorry, but I guess, ultimately, if the answer is uncomfortable, then it's unwise to ask the question.

I split my time between helping to run a heritage centre in Bedworth (will be two on 3rd Feb) and promoting tourism in North Warwickshire (www.visitnorthernwarwickshire). It sounds easy to set up and run small museums/heritage centres but take it from me it's not. Apart from raising more money than you think it takes a lot of time and dedication. First find a suitable property which you can afford to run, modify and fit out. Find suitable exhibits and display in a professional manner, visitors don't want the amateur look. Find enough volunteers to staff the exhibitions, not easy, how many hours a week do you want to open. Does the exhibition change (we stage three each year, have been open for 12 years) or are they permanent. To get repeat visitors you need to offer something different on a regular basis. Having said all that it's very satisfying when you get praised by your visitors who come from all over the UK and 32 countries so far. I don't know if promoting Coventry is much different from promoting the north part of our beautiful county. We have more to offer than perhaps you might think but people still tend to turn their noses up at an unfashionable part of the country. People tend to understandably want the tourist hot spots of south Warwickshire Funding is difficult, generally we run our heritage centre and the tourism association without external funding, but we manage.

I couldn't agree more, heritage. And this, really, is why a lot of help to come from the city council, isn't it? It all needs pulling together and promoting as a package; and as you say, to get repeat visits, you have to put on new things regularly - and they have to be good, or visitors are put off. Another issue that I've come across all too often - even lately - is that people associate the motor industry, and therefore Coventry, with strikes. Even though it was 30 years ago since any significant strikes in the industry! People have long memories, and always remember the bad things more than the good. Perceptions are nearly always much stronger than reality in peoples' minds.

Without putting people's backs up most groups tend to try and keep councils at a distance otherwise there is a danger of tail wagging the dog. Independance is far better but funding is then in your own hands, but then with the cuts funding is very, very difficult anyway.

What point do you mean K?

The point is that having a couple of good museums and a cathedral isn't enough, without something more, to attract tourists in quantity. Perhaps you need to answer the question, what is it that brings tourists in droves to Cambridge, Oxford, York, Bath, Chester? Just consider Cambridge. A friend drove from Essex to Cambridge a couple of weeks ago to see the exhibition of Dutch old masters at the Fitzwilliam. Would he have gone if the exhibition wasn't on? No! And of course, there was food, parking, probably fuel, maybe other purchases. Possibly overnight stay. It's things like that that bring tourists, and keep bringing them back. And that, I think, is enough from me on the subject.

I think that there is still a lot more to say on the topic that Morgana started. I would hate people to think that Coventry only relied on the Herbert and the Transport Museum to attract visitors. In 2012 there is much more happening in the City! In May there is the Rhythm Festival (formerly the Jazz Festival), there is also the 50th Anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral which has some outstanding events planned throughout the year. In June there is the Coventry Fun Run for Cancer Research and the start of the Godiva Festival (29/6 - 1/7). In July we have the Olympic Torch Relay followed by 12 Football Matches for the Olympics at The City of Coventry Stadium (Ricoh Arena). In September we have our Heritage Open Days which are always very popular. In October there is the Coventry Half Marathon. These are all quite major events which will attract visitors from far afield and I am sure there are many more that can be listed. Although I don't agree with all the works that are currently being carried out for the Olympics, I doubt anyone could deny that it will bring visitors to the City and I am sure they will subsequently visit the popular Cathedral, Herbert and the Transport Museum as well as seeking out other sites in the City whilst they are here.

I am pleased to hear about the Rhythm Festival, I live in Coventry but did nt even know we were having one, I hope it all goes well the reason I started this tread to see if new fresh future ideas could come about, for all ages and tastes for the future of the town, also Cameron has asked us all to invite people over here, from all over to visit our country, olymic time, so I thought what fresh ideas could come about to attract them here to this town while here visiting the uk

Well, I assumed there must be an issue for the thread to be raised; but it seems not, with all these things going on. But it does need the message to get out there. The other issue that I'm aware of is that Coventry doesn't have a good image among people where I live - and especially many with whom I worked before I retired. Hopefully all these events will improve things.

That's really interesting

Hi all. During our last heritage weekend, I bumped into a lot of people who had come to Coventry on coach trips & the bits of feed-back that I heard were quite positive, inspite of the construction work & suspect weather. What better place to stay than Coventry to visit the Stoneleigh Model railway, show this weekend. I won't say anymore about that, as I have no wish to advertise on our site here, but I know of several people who are going to that. I am very glad to live in Coventry in spite of the bits that are not quite so good. One thing that is really good here is the central position for getting around anywhere in the midlands. People living in the centre of B'ham travel for half an hour and are still in B'ham. Happy days.

Hi Philip, for the benefit of those that don't know about this forthcoming attraction (me) - maybe you could enlighten us with the details - sounds pretty interesting!

Hi LINK The show is at Stoneleigh Park. Saturday & Sunday. The details are above, Tony. My interest for this show goes back to my friendship with a Courtaulds senior engineer, the late Jack Owen. His interest was building ride-behind scale live steam locos. He was very involved with the miniature railway that was at the Memorial Park many years ago. My favorite loco of his was his own-built King Arthur loco. Hope that helps.