THE staff and volunteers working in tourism across the Blackmore Vale have been celebrating their success in the latest Dorset Tourism Awards. In an online ceremony held on February 4, nominated hotels, information centres and other travel services were recognised for their efforts within the sector, especially through the unprecedented times of the Covid-19 crisis. Locally, Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre received the silver accolade against Bridport Tourist Information Centre in the Visitor Information Service of the Year category, and Sturminster Newton-based Farmstead Glamping received gold in the Glamping Business of the Year category and silver in the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism category.
A TOURIST information centre (TIC) that has stayed open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic is now a finalist in a county-wide travel-based competition. The Dorset Tourism Awards is returning for 2021, albeit virtually as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and Shaftesbury TIC is a finalist in the Visitor Information Service of the Year category, against Bridport TIC. Despite what had felt like a quieter year for tourism, David Taylor, manager of Shaftesbury TIC, said the rise in staycations and walking holidays between the lockdowns in 2020 had caused the town’s volunteer-run centre to thrive. This is in addition to essential services it already offered the public, including topping up residents’ electricity and gas payment cards, distributing recycling containers and selling products for charity.
Hotels and attractions in the Bridport area are among the businesses up for prestigious tourism awards. An awards showcase celebrating the best of the best in the local tourism industry has announced the finalists – at an unprecedented time for the sector. It s been a year like no other for tourism businesses with some struggling to stay afloat amid the pandemic. So news that businesses from west Dorset have made the shortlist of the 2020 Dorset Tourism Awards will come as a very welcome boost. Local entries include Bridport Tourist Information Centre, a previous winner which is a finalist in two categories - Visitor Information Service of the Year and for the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award.