Trade
Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme.
The Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) is managed by VisitEngland and, through its network of regional assessors, boasts an incredible reputation for instigating, modifying and shaping change to the customer experience at visitor attractions across England.
Following successful trials in 1998 in the South West and then in the East of England, VAQAS was officially taken centrally by VisitEngland in 2001. The scheme encourages participants to make VAQAS work for them as a management tool. Industry support has been consistently strong with participants eager to take on board the recommendations of their local assessor.
The service does not attempt to grade attractions but assesses each on its own merits using objective quality benchmarks, provided by the industry. The assessment is an annual visit at any time when the attraction is open to the public. The visit, by an experienced quality assurance assessor, is unannounced, although one key contact at the attraction will be advised beforehand.
The assessment is followed by a one to one debrief. The objective feedback is for consideration and is based on examples of best practice drawn from the attraction industry. Each visit is followed by an assessment report and, if successful, the accreditation of ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction'.
For more information on the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme please click here
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