What would attract visitors to our city long term?

Johnnie Walker's post is similar to what I was saying. Interestingly, there has been a burgeoning debate in our local press this week over the future of our very good local museums; in the current climate there isn't enough income generated by people visiting them to sustain their future, and the council can't subsidised them. One reason is that, though a large number of tourists come to the region, they don't do much at all to increase footfall in the city museums. Unless they are very famous museums, like the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge, there has to be a better way of promoting them to tourists than at present. A number of museums here are already, or are set to become, public trusts, which, it is hoped, will assure their future. But only time will tell. A question: how many people on the forum know of the Birmingham Museum of Science and Technology in Great Charles St? Not many, I'll bet. I visited it about 45 years ago, and I can say that I thought it the best industrial museum I have ever seen. It was free, too. But few people knew of it, and it wasn't even easy to find the entrance. Not knowing about it, (don't know how I found out about it now) few visited it. It's now long gone, and replaced with a 'hands-on centre' intended to get children interested in technology - a tiny shadow of its former self. Getting people to visit cities and museums is not a simple issue, but particularly with the current shortage of money, it's one that we need to confront, wherever we live, and resolve. Our local press has lists of events in the summer months; but tourists probably don't read local papers, do they? Richard Hammond was plugging the Race Retro Historic Car event in Feb at Stoneleigh in his column today, and that's got to be helpful. Certainly, coach firms and travel agents could help through their advertising and specialised tours (Lindum Heritage is a good example). Remember the old railways posters - the ones that are now so valuable to collectors? They were a simple, cheap, effective way of planting seeds in travellers' minds. Perhaps that's the sort of thing that we need ; but would it work today? I don't know, but most national media-based advertising is too expensive to be contemplated, and the Internet isn't very effective unless you already know what you're looking for.

Me I know of it hehe I've been to the Birmingham Museum of Science and Technology my brother took me some years ago, he use to be the head electrician at C&W also Walsgrave hospial, mind you he did say if and when I go in for an operation he'll get them to blunt the knives especially for me |Oh_my I also think it's a great idea planting seeds into peoples heads, of course it still works, everyone follows the seeds goverment plants in our heads

Our ring road, yes well for one I think the slip roads on to off, the angles are dangerous, not many like it like yourselves but yes but the taxi drivers ferrying back and fro, cutting through Coventry to other destinations think it's the best thing since sliced bread as they say true, how do I know my ex-boyfriend who has worked for years on the taxis is a Nuneaton/Bedworth taxi driver and relief pick up for Shearings coaches who takes loads of passengers to the Ricoh on footy days and concerts, also to our Novotel. Don't forget to have a word in the ears of taxi drivers too

This is some important talk and one that will probably shape our city for the better. As in all places, I think that the best tourist attraction is a natural spot that boasts of the marvel of the city, but if nothing can stand up to that rank, I guess that putting up festivals that will celebrate the culture is also a viable option. Though with festivals, it has to be a long running tradition to attract huge crowds, and I am sure that we have a lot of those running.

Hello Berost With all of the restrictions being imposed regards the Olympics in Coventry, I am hoping that event will give our city a boost, not just in visitors, but hopefully good memories that the visitors take back with them when they leave. They then either come again or at least tell their friends. Thank you for your posts.

Well I know one family who will have their eyes glued to the TV during the Olympics and we are hoping for good TV coverage too. So make sure you all wave!!!

Hi all I wonder how much our preconception of a locality overrides what might be there in reality? Wiki, which most people have instant access to has the following pics on the first page of each of these two locations. + The thing is, I don't think that any of you will need a title for either pictures, but which one appeals to a mind-set looking at a visitors brochure. Kenilworth Castle is not in the middle of Kenilworth, so why is there not a pic of our city parkland or recreation areas. I have travelled through Kenilworth aboard the No17 bus & I pass areas that I have never seen included in a guest brochure, neither are they likely to be included even though they are nearer the centre than the castle. Don't misunderstand me, I love the sense of our industrial heart in our city, but then I am a Coventrian & I love where I live. My relatives who have lived all of their lives in Cornwall, what would they want to see on a brochure to entice them to visit. What do you think? I am being quite serious on this.

If this is in Wiki maybe someone could visit the page and "edit" it to show & read the sort of description that best represents OUR Coventry. (Aren't all Wiki pages editable by the general public?) Surely they would allow the change based on your excellent argument above.

Well, one or two of you jumped on me for commenting on the city's image (which was in the context of attracting tourism, I hasten to add), but you might like to consider this. Yesterday afternoon, a friend from Gt Yarmouth visited me, and by chance I was on this forum. I showed him the photos and material on the various pages of the website, and I can only describe his reaction as 'gobsmacked'. He had no idea that Coventry had any historic buildings; his mental image was "typical scruffy Midlands industrial town - nothing to interest me". He'd been once before as a teenager (he's 56 now) to Highfield Road, and that's all he had ever seen of the city, or remembered of it. And this is from someone who is actually interested in history and the past! If Coventry wants tourists to go to the city, it's the image that people have in their mind that counts, not how people on this forum view it. As someone in an earlier post, I too am very much interested in Coventry's industrial past; but most tourists probably aren't. Historic buildings attract people to 'tourist' cities (e.g. Chester), and somehow, the message that Coventry IS a historic city and DOES have historic buildings has to get out there!

Hi all Maybe a new tele show is what is needed to highlight Coventry. I had a holiday in Homefirth just two years ago, only because I have always liked 'Last Of The Summer Wine'. Mrs Bucket lived up your way, Midland Red. Other than a wedding scene & Onslow's, most of the outdoor shots were Leamington way. Pam & I went to Heartbeat country for holidays a couple of times. Of all of the characters portrayed in popular tv shows, the character 'Norman Clegg', I can identify in me. I know that is not much of a compliment to decribe me, but how he reacts to circumstances & situations is me to a tee'. I am at least honest!

There is the glimmer of a really good idea here. One of Coventry's achievements, unless things have gone sadly wrong in recent years, has been to host a relatively prosperous community from India and Pakistan. Indians, these days, are amongst the world's best film makers (Bend it like Beckham, Slumdog Millionaire, just to mention a couple familiar to English-speaking audiences), and there have been examples of good TV series being based on the relations between different cultures (If you've ever lived in Vienna, you will probably know of Kaisermuhlen Blues!). There may have already been UK TV series of this sort (I don't think Up Pompeii really counts!), that haven't made it to my TV in Australia, but if not, then a well-written series could do wonders for the city.

An issue raised in local press in Norwich this week has been how to assure sufficient footfall in museums, and one thing realised is that people visit, but rarely revisit them. The problem identified is that displays need to be regularly changed, and the current proposal is to get funding - notably Lottery funding - in order to set up and get a British Museum travelling exhibitions to come here when available. I would have liked to see one of the travelling history exhibitions last year, but it was shown in London and Liverpool only. I don't want to go to London for museums, and Liverpool is too far. If it had been shown in Coventry or Birmingham I would have been over like a shot! Coventry ought to be ideal for something like this, with being so central and accessible, and some of the major travelling exhibitions definitely would attract people in from far and wide. I know there is a history museum near the cathedral - there was something about it on TV a while back; does that accommodate any thing like I'm describing?

Hello everyone, just an idea to kick around. Not sure how this would work in Coventry or you may already have this venture going. We have what you call 'Swap Meets' here whereby if you have something of value, ie furniture, household goods or even arts and craft work of any kind, you can set up a little stall and sell them. They are held usually once a month at our local park or as in Coventry's case could be in the local church hall or community centre. You know what they say "One man's trash is another man't treasure" They have proved very successful here and make a pleasant afternoon just browsing around. You never know what you may find. There is usually face painting for the children and often tea/coffee available. Your wares that you no longer need may be just what someone else is looking for. I have known folk to come from the other side of the city just to have a look around in our area. If it is held once a month then people will probably return. It has also been known to sell chips !!!!!!

Yes Dreamtime, we have lots of them, we call the "Car Boot Sales" - although I feel there are more "traders" these days than your average householder.

Which is why The Herberts exhibits are constantly changing and evolving. This is one of their current items... The homecoming exhibition of Turner Prize nominee George Shaw between 18 November and 11 March 2012. and here's their forthcoming events... Whats on at The Herbert I'm sure The Herbert bids for exhibitions of the type you suggest but it's up to the organisers whether they tour the country or not. Clearly, the organisers of the one you quoted only wanted it to go to London/Liverpool - even Manchester and Birmingham etc didn't get it! The only museum in the Cathedral would appear to be for the Blitz Museum - found at the bottom of this page Blitz Museum - Coventry Cathedral