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Tag: Wiltshire

Salisbury Showcase shows city is open for tourism

A special trade-only tourism event – ‘Salisbury Tourism Showcase’ – is to be held to remind tour planners that Salisbury is open for visitors.

Organised by VisitWiltshire and Steve Reed Tourism, the free event will be held in the city on 21 May.

The event has been organised following the poison attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in March, and the resulting drop in visitor numbers.

The government has allocated £2.5 million to support the recovery of businesses in Salisbury, including £200,000 to boost tourism.

Salisbury tourism
The Salisbury Tourism Showcase will highlight why the city is ideal for group visits

The showcase will start at 10am in Cathedral Close in Salisbury, and include a visit to Salisbury Cathedral, which is home to a copy of Magna Carta.

The afternoon includes visits to Mompesson House and Gardens; Arundells, the home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath; and other Salisbury attractions.

The event is free to group travel organisers, coach tour operators and other tour planners, but subject to availability and eligibility.

For more information, email Steve Reed at Steve Reed Tourism on steve@stevereedtourism.co.uk.

Salisbury Tourism
Mompesson House is one of Salisbury’s most visited attractions

More coach parking at Stonehenge

English Heritage is to increase the number of coach parking spaces at Stonehenge.

The move follows concerns over a lack of space at peak times and congestion caused by coaches having to double park. The plans, which have yet to be approved, will see the number of permanent coach parking spaces increase to 53. The plans also include the provision of a new toilet at the coach welcome centre, and parking for 26 motorhomes.

English Heritage says 60% of the 1.3 million people who visit the site each year now arrive by coach, a figure far higher than originally planned.

The increase in demand has also brought the end of the fleet of land trains as they were unable to cope. A shuttle bus now provides the visitor transport between the visitor centre and the Stones. A new turning facility is to be built at the visitor centre.

Commenting on the development, Stonehenge general manager Kate Davies says: “Our own experience since we opened our new facilities at Stonehenge in December 2013, together with feedback from industry colleagues and visitors and extensive research have all shown that these key improvements could make a massive difference in the future, whilst maintaining the integrity of the World Heritage Site. This is about English Heritage being able to provide the best possible welcome for coaches visiting Stonehenge.”

Stonehenge
Stonehenge has announced plans to increase the number of coach parking spaces
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