Barrie Foster & Associates
Based in North Pembrokeshire, BFA has provided professional services to the tourism and leisure sector since 1985. Clients have included individual businesses, local authorities, tourist boards, development agencies, trade groups and community groups. In February 2014 Barrie has completed a two-year contract as Editor of 'Visit Wales : Share Wales', part of the Welsh Government's Digital Tourism Business Framework. Barrie is a Fellow of the Tourism Society and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He was a founding CIM Chartered Marketer and sat on the judging panel of Canmol: The Wales Marketing Awards between the launch in 2008 and 2014
Barrie has been involved in marketing and marketing services since the 1970s, in senior management positions from 1974 onwards. Between 1982 and 1985 he worked as a senior account director in London agencies dealing with marketing, sales promotion, point of sales advertising, exhibitions and video/AV for such clients as PepsiCo, Imperial Group, Esso Petroleum and a number of publishing houses of international standing. In 1985 he established his own independent practice specialising in tourism and leisure. Unlike many tourism and leisure consultants Barrie has lived and worked in tourist destinations for most of his adult life: in Germany, Greece, Israel, the English West Country and, ultimately, West Wales.
Individual projects have covered all aspects of tourism and leisure at all stages of strategic development — from feasibility; through business and marketing planning; to product and marketing audits. BFA can also demonstrate substantial experience of dealing with regional development issues and initiatives, especially in rural areas and where tourism and leisure are important components of integrated economic development. In this context we have, over many years, maintained close contact with grass roots tourism through mentoring small and medium size enterprises and through voluntary involvement with national and local initiatives.
Based in North Pembrokeshire, BFA has provided professional services to the tourism and leisure sector since 1985. Clients have included individual businesses, local authorities, tourist boards, development agencies, trade groups and community groups. In February 2014 Barrie has completed a two-year contract as Editor of 'Visit Wales : Share Wales', part of the Welsh Government's Digital Tourism Business Framework. Barrie is a Fellow of the Tourism Society and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He was a founding CIM Chartered Marketer and sat on the judging panel of Canmol: The Wales Marketing Awards between the launch in 2008 and 2014
Barrie has been involved in marketing and marketing services since the 1970s, in senior management positions from 1974 onwards. Between 1982 and 1985 he worked as a senior account director in London agencies dealing with marketing, sales promotion, point of sales advertising, exhibitions and video/AV for such clients as PepsiCo, Imperial Group, Esso Petroleum and a number of publishing houses of international standing. In 1985 he established his own independent practice specialising in tourism and leisure. Unlike many tourism and leisure consultants Barrie has lived and worked in tourist destinations for most of his adult life: in Germany, Greece, Israel, the English West Country and, ultimately, West Wales.
Individual projects have covered all aspects of tourism and leisure at all stages of strategic development — from feasibility; through business and marketing planning; to product and marketing audits. BFA can also demonstrate substantial experience of dealing with regional development issues and initiatives, especially in rural areas and where tourism and leisure are important components of integrated economic development. In this context we have, over many years, maintained close contact with grass roots tourism through mentoring small and medium size enterprises and through voluntary involvement with national and local initiatives.
The digital world of the 21st Century requires more than a theoretical acquaintance with the range of media, platforms and channels available to tourism marketers. Barrie Foster has worked with a variety of marketing and communications media since the 1970s, providing photographic, copywriting, programme design/scriptwriting, audio editing and other services in parallel with strategic projects. Long familiarity and hands-on skills are a foundation for combining the most appropriate traditional and digital media for maximum impact in an environment where content, stories and cross-fertilisation are key to the presentation of destinations, cultural and heritage products, outdoor activities and the rest.