24/09/2010

Tourism chiefs are celebrating the success of the city's new Visitor Information Centre with the launch of a new advertising campaign in York.  The FTR purple ‘super bus', launched five years ago by First, will be wrapped with iconic images of York for a whole year; the aim being to encourage as many locals as well as visitors to use the new facilities. 

In the first month of trading alone, year on year visits to the new Visit York Information Centre, at 1 Museum Street, were up by 57% - that's an extra 12,391 to 33,960 visitors.  And since opening on 27 May visits to date are up by a whopping 89% - an extra 74,599 visitors to 157,809.

Supported by Yorkshire Forward, Welcome to Yorkshire, the City of York Council, the Business Link Legacy Fund and York Conservation Trust, the new state-of-the-art Visit York information centre opened its doors on 27 May this year, replacing the service located at the De Grey Rooms in Exhibition Square. 

Chris Morton, Visitor Services Manager said, ‘we're delighted to have seen lots of York residents coming in for event information and gifts saying that they never thought of coming into the De Grey Rooms as they thought it was just for tourists.  That's the message we're really keen to get across; York's Visitor Centre is for everyone, we want locals and tourists to make use of the information and services we provide.'

The Visit York Centre is now gearing up for Christmas with an array of Yorkshire stocking fillers, cards and calendars.  Yorkshire biscuits, chocolates and tea are among the best sellers in the shop so far, alongside jewellery, a range of ‘I love York' merchandise as well as the ever popular Viking Helmets (selling in their hundreds) and anything about haunted York.

Mrs Burgess from Wheldrake in York said, ‘I have travelled the world and this is by far the best tourist information centre I have been in.  It's nice to come into a tourist office which is bright and modern and the staff are so friendly and helpful. Even though we've lived in York for years every time we go in we find out something new.'

Chris continued, ‘We hope the FTR promotion will turn heads and encourage more visits to the new centre.  People are impressed that we are a one stop shop, in a better location, much more accessible and very modern.  Visitors can get everything from us; from what's on in York tonight to buying national express tickets or how to explore the dales and coast. We welcome York residents to come in and see for themselves how we can help them make the most of what's on their doorstep.'  ENDS