Witney News - Find out about area during British Tourism Week

Find out about area during British Tourism Week

West Oxfordshire's Visitor Information Centres (VICs) will throw open their doors to give residents guided tours and walks around their local area as part of British Tourism Week.

The national awareness week runs from 12 to 20 March and staff at VICs in Burford, Woodstock and Witney will be welcoming people to demonstrate their role in promoting the local area to tourists and visitors.

The tours will be given between 2pm and 4pm, including a guided walk of the local area at 3pm, as follows:

Monday 14 March – Woodstock VIC, based at The Oxfordshire Museum, Park Street, Woodstock.
Wednesday 16 March – Burford VIC, The Brewery, Sheep Street, Burford.
Friday 18th March – Witney VIC, based at the Council’s Town Centre Shop in Welch Way, Witney.

Places on the guided walks should be booked in advance by calling 01993 861780.

The VICs stock a range of gifts and souvenirs and there will be a 20% discount on these items for sale throughout British Tourism Week.

Cllr Richard Langridge, West Oxfordshire District Council's Cabinet Member for Local Economy and Communities, said: “Tourism is extremely important in West Oxfordshire and the VICs are part of the Council’s commitment to supporting the industry. We would like to invite people to come along and find out what they do – from promoting local events to helping with accommodation for visitors.”

Latest figures from Tourism South East, the official tourist board for the region, recently showed that tourism is worth around £249 million to West Oxfordshire's economy, with 4,800 people (2,940 full-time equivalent) employed in the sector.

The District Council works to promote tourism, support tourism businesses and encourage more visitors to the area. Part of this work includes marketing the area as the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and running a dedicated website, www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org, producing a visitor guide and other publications promoting the District.

British Tourism Week runs nationally to raise awareness of the value and importance of tourism to Britain's £115 billion visitor economy.