“Tourism isn’t just for Tourists…” – Dr Douglas Gyte

IS IT DIFFICULT COMING INTO THIS FROM THE OUTSIDE?

First I would say I am not truly from the outside. I worked for nine years in developing Fens Tourism and know the city well. My career has taken me to many places, but I know and love the area, was fortunate enough to get this post and have come back! You are right, though, that there are advantages to someone coming (back) from outside, in that you can approach issues afresh, using experiences from elsewhere. I work to create mechanisms by which people have their say, and things get done. So, we can identify the quick wins and also see if there are any barriers to our plans. Done in a non-confrontational way, and looked at objectively we might say: “That’s going to take a significant amount of resource to overcome, but it need not be a problem”. How? Free up our imaginations, and agree where, over the next ten years, we would like to be and what our aspirations are in terms of visitor economy.

ARE THERE ANY FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE TACKLED?

Here’s one: the riverside. Many quality city destinations have embraced their rivers, where in previous generations it’s been a bit of an afterthought. Manchester was a classic case. All their waterways were built over and had become polluted. But they became the focus for regeneration, and buildings that had been derelict for a long, long time were turned into flats and regenerated in the space of 15 years. The number of people living in Manchester, around these sites, is amazing. It’s made the city of Manchester – which is relatively small compared to the Greater Manchester area – a fantastic place to live, with a burgeoning evening economy.

That is one of the many things we want to develop for Peterborough with more of the population actually living in and around the city centre. We will embrace the riverside redevelopment in our plans and that will effectively extend the city centre. That’s a big one – but we’ll make that work, and the visitor experience will be part of that development from Day One. We’ve started this journey with the daytime economy, and some aspects of the evening economy are already there, but we’re not stopping at that. We’re developing that potential, and other aspects that people expect of a city. That’s where we’re going in this next ten years, and I’m proud to be part of it. I am actually so pleased at the development work that has gone on this last five years. I feel like I’ve got a fantastic canvas to work with, and the place is ready to go to the next level.

HOW HAS PETERBOROUGH WELCOMED YOU AS A VISITOR?

It’s only three months into the post and already I feel I’ve made good progress – because the people of Peterborough have been so positive to speak to. I’ve made that quick progress because I’m pushing at open doors. From what I have seen so far everyone is talking more and planning together more to achieve more. There is a buzz about this city that shows there isn’t the lack of commitment that is often a major barrier to change. It really has been that positive. People are ready to work together. And people are saying: “I’m glad you’ve come to see me…” It won’t all be plain sailing, I’m sure, but by talking and working on problems together there is always a solution. And it has genuinely been a pleasure to talk to everyone I’ve met in Peterborough so far. I’m really looking forward to the challenge – it’s a really exciting time.

LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

■ www.peterborough.gov.uk/community_information/ peterborough_vision.aspx

■ www.visitpeterborough.com/ (shortly to be adapted to the “P” brand pending later restructure)

■ www.visitengland.org/ (business website shortly to be relaunched)

■ www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk/ (shortly to be relaunched)

■ www.vivacity-peterborough.com