Visitor information centres score highly

Visitor Information Centres (VICs) across the south of Shropshire have scored highly according to recent independent visitor surveys.

As part of a Destination Benchmarking survey, professional market research teams interviewed visitors in 28 towns across the West Midlands during late 2007. Questions were asked about where the visitors came from, how far they travelled, the type of accommodation used, and their opinions on shops, attractions and general welcome.

The Visitor Information Centres managed by Shropshire County Council at Bridgnorth, Church Stretton and Ludlow all scored well in terms of the ease with which visitors found the VICs, the quality of service provided, and the usefulness of the information received. The scores were in fact some of the highest ratings in the survey, and all of them were above the average for Shropshire and the other market towns in the region.

Ludlow had the highest number of visitors, over one third of those surveyed having used the Visitor Information Centre. Bridgnorth was regarded as the easiest to find; and at Church Stretton, 100% of people surveyed judged the service received as “very good”.

Barbara Craig, Shropshire County Council's Cabinet member for community services, said: “Visitor Information Centres are important for promotion of the local economy and facilities to visitors as well as to local residents. It is really good to see these results, and know that we can have confidence in the high level of service provided by our centres and their staff.”

28 February 2008