Bath Tourism Plus, the city’s destination management services provider, has been promised a “more stable and robust” future after being taken completely into the control Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The move ends the long-standing part ownership of Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) by Bath Chamber of Commerce.
BTP, a limited company, was set up in 2003 jointly by the Council and Chamber of Commerce and the Initiative in B&NES. 
The council said it would create a more sustainable business for the benefit of the local economy. Tourists spend £430m in the city’s economy, supporting 9,400 local jobs and producing £303m Gross Value Added (GVA) a year.
Employment in the visitor economy has increased by 3.2% over the past five years and is forecast to continue to grow by around 3,500 jobs.
There are no proposed changes to the services provided by BTP and its consumer-facing brand VisitBath; the proposed changes are just to the administrative set-up of the company.
BTP chairman Ian Bell, who is also executive director of Bath Chamber of Commerce & Initiative in B&NES, pictured, said: “As one of the founding members of BTP, the priority for Bath Chamber of Commerce and the Initiative in B&NES has always been to ensure that the company has the ability to deliver economic growth for the area.
“We are focussed on what will be the best for the industry and visitors and we will continue to work with the Council on the details for the new arrangements.”
Council cabinet member for economic development, Patrick Anketell-Jones, added: “This decision cements our support for the (tourism) sector – which in turn benefits the local community.
“This means we can secure the long-term future of BTP, and ensure that Bath and North East Somerset continues to be an attractive destination for visitors locally, nationally and from around the world.”
BTP chief executive David James said he was delighted the council had re-affirmed its full support for BTP.
“This new financial stability will allow BTP to focus on what it does best, which is promoting the destination at home and abroad and supporting the brilliant work of our members who make a massive contribution to our local economy,” he said.
