Exmouth who?

Manchester, football; Edinburgh, festival; Newcastle, night-life; Nottingham, gun crime; Bath, Georgian architecture; Exmouth... after stumbling around teen-pregnancy for the majority of the thought process, decided it too crass and left the column blank. There are though many other things that sprung to mind and jostled for this position in the meantime: There is a beautiful long beach, ridiculously impressive sunsets over the river and enough charity shops that even the most efficient older-lady shopper would have her mind blown by the choice of under-a-pound raincoats, or perhaps a good choice is the walks and cycle routes; abundant and ever-improving locally. But then none of these has been cemented in the minds of outsiders as being the draw to our town. My beliefs may be misplaced, not being a native of a visiting horde originating north of Bristol, I could not say for certain, but in all the conversations that have taken place in my company with suck folk, there has never been an agreed upon consensus on the appeal of the town. With the most popular reason for visiting being that they were dragged down on a family holiday to "The bay" when they were aged 15, when they would've been more inclined to have stayed home and attempt to impress peers with a fabled parent-less house party. People need to recognise a draw, an excitement, an identity that makes them want to visit for that reason. I would like to point out though that I do not mean visit, as in to Sandy bay, but the draw being Exmouth itself, and that also I am not meaning to say that Exmouth gets no happy visitors now, but surely a reputation as a welcoming resort really making the most of what it has is more enticing than employing the tried and worn out tactic of copying things that worked when the world was still in black-and-white, like putting up coloured Blackpool lights along the seafront (at great cost, abating those who like to complain about change and were so vehemently against considering a modern and possibly more attractive replacement). 

The previous hyperbolic comparisons with this countries great cities does not serve much purpose other than to exaggerate a point, but I think there are a lot more towns locally that one could recognise what the main attraction or identity of the town is, and therefore tourists choose to visit for this reason. But for all the things our town has going for it, none are to me the reason, an attraction that is locally, regionally or even nationally known. Perhaps make more of the previously mentioned attractions, updating and improving to attract visitors. But the key I think is to not copy everywhere else and have our own identity. Despite Exmouth having a population pyramid similar in physique to a particularly anorexic hour glass, surely the missing middle sector should be the target of attraction to the area during the summer period? This being a tourist town. And one thing that keeps coming to mind as an ever-growing activity and completely viable option with our location is kitesurfing. I really believe this is an activity that our town could promote as being a hub for. I know a number of people do participate here, and even visit to participate here but would you when considering this sport think...'Exmouth'. I'd guess most likely not. This though would be my plan, to try everything within our power to aid the growth of this activity within our town and help the future prosperity of the town grow on the back of the tourism growth based on this. Future competitions, stores, lessons. Much like we are made so aware that cornwall is for surfing. 

I know nothing however. Just an idea x