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New look tourism website to give a boost to local economy

Local tourism businesses are set to reap the rewards from Winchester’s fresh, new look tourism website.

 

The popular site at www.visitwinchester.co.uk has just undergone an exciting redesign as part of Winchester City Council’s continued efforts to draw visitors to the area to support the local economy.  The site is now equipped with new imagery and features devised to tempt and encourage visitors to spend longer exploring Winchester and the surrounding area – and to spend more in the process. The website redesign is one of a series of new initiatives to capitalise on the regionally confirmed ‘staycation’ trend.

 

Following extensive research into the habits of the previous site’s online traffic, development work on the new site commenced in January.  The contemporary, easier to use site is now also ready for the run up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 when millions more visitors are expected to plan trips to the UK from overseas. The overall aim is to make Winchester stand out as a more attractive proposition to visitors browsing the internet for a UK destination, and to streamline the way information is presented, reducing the number of clicks needed to reach it.

 

The site comes with brand new content to target different niche markets including a ‘body and soul’ page for those looking for a relaxing break, plus integrated ‘microsites’ for cricket and Jane Austen enthusiasts with suggested itineraries. Visitors can now also plan ahead of their journey using an online itinerary planner. Further exciting developments planned for spring 2010 will complement the new accommodation features including an online booking system, making it easier to arrange a stay in Winchester.

 

Ellen Simpson, Tourism Marketing and Development Manager, said: "We’re delighted to have been able to press ahead and update our online presence, in terms of branding and cutting-edge functionality. We hope the new site will support smaller and medium sized businesses to make their mark in these economically turbulent times."

 

"We’re also actively encouraging local residents to save this site as a favourite to dip into, as they may also find it a useful place to find out about events, good places to eat and special offers either for themselves or when they have friends visiting."

 

Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr Beckett, stated: "Tourism is one of the five core sectors of our local economy, and we are conscious that Winchester’s competitiveness at home and abroad is increasingly reliant on sophisticated e-marketing.  Our visitor website has taken a leap forward, and I hope that the many tourism businesses with whom we work will see and benefit from the results."

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