WORCESTER City Council’s tourism representatives say they are determined to put the Faithful City on the tourist map and increase visitor numbers.
Coun Lucy Hodgson, the Chair of the Place and Economic Development Sub Committee, spoke to the Observer ahead of a big couple of weeks.
Next Wednesday and Thursday the council will be promoting Worcester at the British Tourism and Travel Show at Birmingham’s NEC. It will be the first time the city has exhibited at what is the largest annual event for the tourism industry.
Then on March 31, the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce contract for the Tourism Information Centre (TIC) comes to an end and the city council is taking that over.
At the NEC show Worcester Re-enactors will showcase Worcester’s significant role in the Civil War and staff from the Cathedral, the TIC and Worcester Museum and Art Gallery will also be present.
Helen Mole, Worcester City Council’s economic development officer, will also be attending.
“Our team will be meeting lots of domestic travel industry professionals including tour operators, group travel organisers, travel agents and coach companies.
“They’ll be able to answer questions about the city, promote attractions and encourage people to add Worcester to their itineraries as part of their tours of the UK.”
Coun Hodgson said when it came to tourism Worcester often punched below its weight.
“We are looking at trying to increase visitor numbers and will be working with the Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) to see how we can bring more people to the city.
“With independent shops, The Guildhall, the Cathedral, Commandery and all its Civil War history, the China workshop and Tudor House, we have so much to offer.
“It’s also about looking at the different ways of selling the city and the visitor attractions.”
A website is also planned to put all the information potential tourists need in one place
“We want to let the people who visit places like Stratford and Oxford know we are also here and encourage them to come here, along with visiting rugby fans who we are also hoping will come and spend a weekend in Worcester.”
The most recent Tourism Economic Impact Assessment shows a 39.8 per cent increase in visitors to Worcester since 2000.
More than 3,000 people are also employed directly or indirectly in Worcester’s tourism sector which is worth an estimated £160million to the local economy.
