Regarding the article on Saturday, October 4, the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Weymouth was moved from the Esplanade to the Pavilion back in 2010 but was closed following the budgetary decision of WPBC full council in early 2013.
There are currently various Tourist Information Points (TIP) in Weymouth, including at the Pavilion, Cineworld and the library.
A new Visitor Information Centre has recently opened at the Heights Hotel on Portland and, as the article correctly stated, WPBC has recently agreed with English Heritage that there should be a TIP at Portland Castle with effect from next April.
The absence of a TIC in Weymouth has been mentioned repeatedly since I took over as tourism briefholder at the end of May.
It is, of course, true that much information can be sourced on the internet, but not all our visitors are as yet at ease with this form of communication.
It is also true that a council-funded service might be viewed as a taxpayer subsidy to the tourist industry, but there is no doubt that the industry forms a significant part of the borough’s wider economy, benefiting a large section of the community.
In consequence, the council is in discussion with a number of partners about the shared provision of a full TIC facility, with a view to offering an improved service in time for the next summer season.
However, no firm agreement has yet been reached and celebration is therefore somewhat premature.
Rachel Rogers
Councillor for Littlemoor Ward Briefholder for Tourism and Culture,
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