Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is launching a new campaign on 1st October in a drive to promote Kent Downs as an exciting all-year-round destination that offers an abundance of sustainable tourism experiences appealing to a wide variety of audiences.
From ‘Chow Downs’ to ‘Power Downs’, from ‘Show Downs’ to ‘Play Downs’, Kent Downs AONB is offering an escape from the crowds and bingeing on fresh air and freedom as the ‘All-year-round Downs’.
Nick Johannsen, director of Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit, said: “Experiential tourism is a growing travel trend based on regional uniqueness.
“Travellers are increasingly seeking off-the-beaten-path, ‘live like a local’ authentic experiences throughout the year.
“Kent Downs AONB is the perfect destination to try out a new experience; perhaps something unique, or something that inspires you that you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t been able to access before.
“Since the Experience project launched in September 2019 the team have been working hard to develop new experiences to attract more visitors to the area.
“Visitors can connect with our wonderful natural environment in new and exciting ways.
“They can learn how to cook stuffed chapatis over an open fire in the woods, try out bushcraft as part of a group camp or perhaps take part in an ‘Awakening Walk’ to stimulate the senses”
The launch of the ‘Up the Kent Downs’ campaign comes during an exciting period for tourism in the area.
Towards the end of last year, Kent’s Heritage Coast within the Kent Downs AONB was named by Lonely Planet as one of the world’s best regions to visit in 2022. – the only UK destination to feature on the list.
Kent Downs AONB is also aspiring to achieve Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark status with its fellow protected landscape a short hop across the English Channel in France, the Parc Naturel Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale.
Both areas are joined by the layer of chalk that traverses the famous stretch of water between the two coasts.