Infotel retain ISO Accreditation

Having successfully retained their Investors In People accreditation in April, it seems that the sky’s the limit for Infotel Solutions Ltd who have this week also had their ISO accreditation renewed.

Following scrutiny from the ISO Officer, the surveillance visit went extremely well and once again Infotel have matched the requirements for quality.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 161 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.

ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. For more information visit http://www.iso.org/iso/about.htm

Devon tourism 'worth £2.3bn'

Hotel groups and other tourism businesses in Devon help to generate around £2.3 billion for the local economy, according to new figures.

The new report from Visit Devon has revealed that the area recorded a ten per cent increase in UK visitors over 2006 and 2007, while the organisation predicts the figure will rise this year.

It also found that visitors from both the UK and overseas spent 26 million nights in the area during 2007, while day visitors accounted for 20 million trips to the region.

Nicola Poultney, Chief Executive of Visit Devon, said the figures highlighted the popularity of the area amongst all types of tourists.

She added: "As the data is from 2007 it doesn't really yet show us the effect the economic downturn has had on tourism to the region but all signs indicate we had a great Easter weekend, with accommodation providers and attractions reporting visitor numbers were up."

Demand for Bath tourism guide increases

Hotels in Bath may see a boom in trade after a surge in demand for the city's latest visitor guide has been noted.Bath Tourism Plus printed 80,000 copies of the guide, which details recommended accommodation, shops, restaurants and attractions, in January and has so far received 6,000 requests for the booklet, 18 per cent more than in the same period last year, reports the Bath Chronicle.The Bath Visitor Guide underwent a revamp for its latest edition and it now boasts new branding and photography of the city's sites.Jane Hull, the firm's travel and trade conference manager, told the publication: "We were delighted with the end result and have received positive feedback from our members and customers."Northumberland Tourism has recently launched its own guide, featuring days out and attractions in the region. It is available for free in Tourist Information Centres across the county and details outdoor activities and National Trust and English Heritage properties nearby.

Welsh golf tourism on the rise

The number of people heading to Wales for golfing holidays appears to be increasing, new figures have suggested.

According to research from the country's government, the financial impact of golf tourism in 2008 was up by 13 per cent from statistics for 2007, with revenue generated from the sector standing at almost £30 million.

Visitor numbers to golfing venues in Wales were also found to be higher in 2008 than 12 months earlier.

Alun Ffred Jones, the country's heritage minister, said: "These figures are excellent news for the golf tourism industry in Wales and shows that the Ryder Cup effect is taking hold throughout Wales and is proving to be a huge boost for tourism.

"I'm delighted to see that Wales has a high level of satisfaction for all aspects of a golfing break – from the welcome to the quality of the course."

Hotels close to Liverpool could be boosted by recent news that Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa's 72-par course has joined the PGA EuroPro Tour and will host its first event from August 19th.

London Eye 'top tourism attraction'

The London Eye is considered the top attraction in the UK, according to a new survey.

Cumbria's Lake District and Blackpool Tower were ranked second and third in the poll, which was conducted by Best of Britain and Ireland 2009, while Sherwood Forest and Giant's Causeway in Country Antrim completed the top five.

"The London Eye is the world's highest cantilevered observation wheel and has become a must do for all visitors coming to London. The views on a clear day reach for miles and you can always see something new. It is one of the best ways to see London," Louisa Myers, UK marketing manager for Visit London commented.

Liverpool Docks, Brighton, Alton Towers, the Yorkshire Dales and the Norfolk Broads were also included on the list, which could see the number of people taking hotel breaks in these regions boosted.

Research by tourism body Visit England released at the first Best of Britain and Ireland trade show revealed that one in five people who went abroad for a holiday last year will consider a domestic trip in 2009 to save cash.

London attracts 26m visitors in 2008

Hotels in London could be busy this year if booming tourism numbers from 2008 are any indication of this year's visitor levels.

Data released by Visit London highlights that more than 26 million visitors headed to the capital last year, spending some £10.5 billion.

It is thought that this increase in visitors, which was 550,000 more than the previous 12 months, was prompted by the fall in sterling's value against the euro and dollar, in addition to more people taking domestic holidays due to the recession.

However, the number of overseas visitors dropped by three per cent in 2008, down to 14.8 million.

Visit London Chief Executive Sally Chatterjee said: "It is more important than ever that we continue to promote London to both domestic and international audiences."
It was recently reported that London is set to benefit from an extra £400,000, which will be added to its £2 million tourism campaign in a bid to attract even more visitors.

Plans unveiled to boost Yorkshire tourism

Hotels in Leeds and other areas of Yorkshire could benefit from plans to launch a new marketing campaign highlighting the region as a tourist destination.

The Yorkshire Tourism Board (YTB) announced at the industry event Y09 that high-profile TV commercials will be launched alongside online, cinema and press advertising.

It is hoped the scheme will boost the area's tourism economy, which is already thought to generation over £6 billion of revenue for the region every year.

Gary Verity, chief executive of the YTB, said the new campaign would "turn heads both here and overseas".

He added: "We want to make sure more visitors are coming to Yorkshire and spending their money in Yorkshire."

A new brochure was recently published to highlight the region's stately homes, castles and gardens.

The guide includes over 40 venues and includes details about what each of the attractions has to offer potential visitors in the coming months.

Scotland targets domestic tourists

A new campaign which could boost the number of British residents heading to Scotland for a hotel break or similar holiday has been launched.

The £1 million Perfect Day campaign has been designed to highlight the country as an ideal option for a "staycation" in the coming months as people are put off from heading abroad due to high exchange rates.

Cinema and TV adverts have been created to support the initiative, while over 250 businesses are taking part to raise awareness of the scheme.

Jim Mather, minister for tourism, said: "It is vital that we continue to look at new and innovative ways of attracting new visitors to our great country.

"This is the biggest domestic tourism drive VisitScotland has ever launched and we want to showcase the best of what Scotland has to offer to tourists right across the UK."