Mixing heritage with creativity
Promoting Bath as a cosmopolitan city while being mindful of its heritage is the key aim for the boss of Visit Bath. Craig Jenkins has taken over as its executive chairman as a time when “Visit Bath has so many new opportunities to promote Bath and North East Somerset”. Mr Jenkins has lived in central Bath for more than 25 years and has been a director of Bath Tourism Plus since 2017. He is delighted to take up his new role and said: “At a time of austerity, when all public services have had to take their share of cuts, I aim to ensure that we will still deliver the best possible service on a reduced budget, and so I would like to see us connect with people and organisations in a more effective way. Over recent years we have developed strong, strategic partnerships and we are now well positioned to forge new partnerships that will benefit all our stakeholders and help us to promote the area nationally and internationally.” Mr Jenkins added: “I am keen to engage more with visual and performing arts as well as the growing creative media sector in our area. We should be aware of Bath’s heritage but it is our duty to promote the city as it is now, a cosmopolitan city of creativity, culture and the arts.” He wants to make the most of digital technology and overhaul the membership packages and believes building on the success of the Christmas markets and developing events will add to the Bath experience. He said: “Bath is already a global brand but we must not become complacent. There is a great deal of cooperation in the city and the surrounding area already, but there are still times when the council, residents, local businesses and interest groups do not work together as they should. I am keen to build and enhance the connections between these people and organisations, because by working well together we can make Bath great.”