Netting more tourists

12:11pm Monday 1st October 2001

A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme bringing the tourist industry into the digital age will encourage more visitors to Greenwich.

The £1.6m EnglandNet Partnership, creating a nationwide internet framework, will be piloted in the borough.

Representatives of the English Tourism Council and regional tourist boards attended the official launch at the Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, last Tuesday.

As the e-tourist scheme develops, it will give comprehensive national, regional and local information, and “real time” details covering the availability of accommodation, tours and tickets.

The site will make holiday planning easier with links to transport timetables and provide a taster of what the borough offers with audio and video clips and pictures.

Announcing £900,000 of government cash for the project, Tourism Minister Kim Howells said: “England needs to compete hard for tourism business in the virtual world. Holidaymakers are becoming used to fast, up-to-date, tailored information. The EnglandNet Partnership is a ground-breaking example of how we can respond to these challenges.”

Greenwich, with the Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, and Observatory, attracts three million tourists a year.

Chairman of the Greenwich Tourism Partnership Councillor Bob Harris said: “The council recognises the important contribution tourism makes to the economy, and is committed to doing all it can to develop Greenwich as a visitor destination. I am sure services developed through the partnership will help tourist agencies and attractions meet the needs of visitors to the borough in the years ahead.”