One statue is 'not enough' for Nottingham to cash in on Robin Hood
ROBIN Hood should be used more to attract visitors, according to a group of students who have assessed Nottingham's viability as a tourist destination.
A group of 46 tourism students from the University of Westminster visited Nottingham as part of an assignment. Their ideas will be shared with Nottingham City Council.
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Clare Foster, lecturer in tourism management at the university, said she wanted her students to see a place in the UK which was off the traditional tourism trail, rather than somewhere like London, Stratford, York or Edinburgh. "I think Nottingham has a lot of potential," she said.
"It is a beautiful place, has a great nightlife, and it easy to reach and to get around."
Following the three-day trip, during which students were shown some Nottingham sights, they will have until March 12 to submit a 2,000 word report assessing Nottingham's tourism facilities and recommending a type of tourism the city should focus on.
One student, Sebil Ozyildirim, 24, from London, said: "When you come to Nottingham city centre there is not much historical evidence of Robin Hood. There is only one statue, but I think Nottingham's profile could be increased by dotting around more statues or little memorials.
"It would attract more adults, families and children who are interested in Nottingham's heritage."
Miss Ozyildirim thought Nottingham should draw on its golf facilities more to attract tourists.
"Golf tourism brings in a lot of revenue," she added.
Felow student Owen Carlin, 20, from Derry, in Northern Ireland, echoed her views. He said the trip to Nottingham was "really interesting", but added visitors to the city should be made more aware of the Robin Hood legend.
Anita Sipos, 29, from Budapest, in Hungary, also took part in the visit.
Her favourite aspects about the city were the castle and the caves, but she said Nottingham was lacking a medieval restaurant with staff in costumes and authentic food.
"Something like that could also be used to celebrate the city's connection to Robin Hood," Mrs Sipos added.
Councillor Mike Edwards, chairman of the city centre area committee, talked to the students during their visit. "Robin Hood doesn't seem to be strongly enough associated with Nottingham, so I think there is something to explore," he said.
"But I think we should develop a fuller history of Nottingham as well."
12 Comments
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by EzekialBone
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:56PM
“Bless 'em but rather than stating the obvious, they should have scratched the surface a bit more. They might have even found the Robin Hood Town Tour - a one man crusade to firmly embed Robin Hood in Nottingham and make people understand the legend.
Councillor Edwards is on target. The above tour uses Robin Hood as the vehicle, or medium, via which to promote and celebrate the rest of the City's rich history and culture. BULLS EYE!!
Actions speak louder than words.”
by mancunia7
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:40PM
“Nottingham has great cultural (literary) tourism potential. D.H. Lawrence, Alan Sillitoe and the numerous Robin Hood writers cared enough about the city to immortalise it in their writings. This shouldn't be kept a secret.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Monday, February 20 2012, 4:26PM
“I know what would attract tourists to Nottingham. A comedy venue in which first-rate satirists such as meeki1 could ply their trade. He's soooooo funny! No-one from reading this story before the comments could see that one of his coming. It's almost inspired!”
by meeki1
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:13PM
“Surely, a Jon Collins statue placed in Slab Square depicting a modern day Sheriff of Nottingham would brighten Nottingham's centre and encourage tourism.
What is the difference between the Sheriff of Robin Hood's days and Jon Collins with his merry councillors?”
by Earl_Manvers
Monday, February 20 2012, 12:58PM
“Brewhouse Yard museum `has not been closed down but they are proposing to hugely decrease access to it.”
by Alberto Frog
Monday, February 20 2012, 12:47PM
“Don't these students realise that you need expensive trips to Florida at the council tax payers expense to come up with these sort of recommendations? Remembering of course to do nothing about them for years on end.
Of course they could have visited the superb Brewhouse Yard museum but it's been closed down by the same City Councillors who want tourists to visit the city.”
by spread66
Monday, February 20 2012, 11:19AM
“We are talking visitors to the city here, Hollywood does not make big movies about lace making or places built on caves. Most know about the Robin Hood legend so it cant possibly hurt to use it to get them here in the first place.”
by FormerlyW
Monday, February 20 2012, 11:13AM
“Actually, it looks as if the lecturer hadn't done her homework, and that anyone really wanting this excruciating experience can have it right here in Nottingham: http://tinyurl.com/76yyxtg”
by Crlton1
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:58AM
“Note to Capital Shopping Centres - A revamped BroadMarsh should have alongside the City of Caves a significant high quality Robin Hood themed attraction designed in such a way that people will want to visit it more than once. Then when shoppers wake up and have to decide whether to go to the drab and dull Westfields in Derby or BroadMarsh Nottingham the kids will all say lets go to Nottingham as will the tourists.”
by BLawrenson
Monday, February 20 2012, 10:42AM
“"FW" you should go to Tallinn and see what revenue such places bring in.”