SIGNIFICANT progress has been made in promoting Weymouth as an activity holiday.

A host of events have been lined up for this summer in efforts to draw in more holiday makers and prove that Weymouth is more than a simple bucket and spade holiday.

In efforts to improve footfall in the town, Weymouth BID has provided funding for four projects since January.

Artwey will be running an Open for Art two-week festival from Saturday, May 20 to Sunday, June 4 at various locations around the area. It aims to promote local artists and venues.

Carol Cruickshank, Artwey chairman said: "Artwey have been delighted to receive support from the Weymouth BID team in terms of funding, marketing expertise and networking which has helped our event Open For Art to expand threefold whilst still making it accessible and affordable to artists, business advertisers and sponsors.

"We hope this is the beginning of a great working relationship with Weymouth BID that will result in growing Open For Art into an established, respected and successful biannual event raising the cultural profile in our area and encouraging visitors to enjoy all that our towns have to offer.

"We would like to thank Weymouth BID for providing both funding and marketing support to enable the Open for Art event to reach a wider audience.”

The Weymouth and Portland Lions applied to the BID for financial support for two events, a new event on Easter Sunday, the Weymouth Wade and the Lions Music Festival in June.

In total, Weymouth and Portland Lions have received just under £10,000 worth of financial support since 2013, including support for the annual Motocross event, two music festivals, and a Christmas event in 2015.

The BIG Outdoor Adventure Weekend will run over the weekend of May 20 and 21 with a wide range of activity events that offer the chance for people to try out the many outdoor activities in the area that include, cycling, rock climbing, sailing and numerous water-based activities.

Roy Griffiths, activity sector representative at the Weymouth Area Partnership said: “It has been my belief for a long time now that activity breaks are a key element to the tourism challenges of filling accommodation outside the main holiday period and attracting higher spending visitors.

"Working with support from the Weymouth BID, who also recognised this opportunity, we have managed to achieve significant progress in promoting our area for activity holidays through attendance at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure Show on the We Are Weymouth Stand, production of 10,000 A3 local activity leaflets and development of the brand new event, The BIG Dorset Outdoor Weekend."

Weymouth BID has provided funding to a number of organisations since it was formed in 2013 including the 2016 Weymouth Leviathan Literary Festival, Motocross, Weymouth Carnival as well as additional projects, such as Best Bar None, RU2 Drunk, and new radios for Pubwatch as part of the night time economy support.

Chairman of Weymouth BID, Steve Newstead said: “Weymouth BID has contributed over £30,000 to various events and projects with funding ranging from £300 to £5,000.

"The marketing the BID can provide through the We Are Weymouth website and social media has proved useful in helping organisations promote their events and activities and is an additional support outside of funding.”

To request funding visit weymouthbid.co.uk/ or for more information email info@weymouthbid.co.uk or call 01305 779410.