Vale tourist information centres open their doors
The Vale of Glamorgan Council tourist information centres
at Barry Island and Penarth Pier are set for another busy
season.
Thousands of visitors and residents will be greeted by staff who
will be manning the centres from 10am until 5.30pm seven days a
week until the end of September.
Stacey Flint and Jane Wilkinson join seasonal staff Elizabeth
Matthews, John Rogers, Delphine Bryant and Steve Miller this year,
and managing the team is tourist information co-ordinator Carolyn
Spiller, who said: “The team will continue to be the enthusiastic
and friendly faces of the two centres who can help with plenty of
ideas on what to do.”
Carolyn added: “The team have all the information about local
events and places to visit and can book ‘Waverley’ and ‘Balmoral’
pleasure cruises as well as helping source accommodation throughout
the UK.”
The centres have been praised in a satisfaction survey as
providing an 'informative, efficient and friendly service,' and
senior tourist information assistant Elizabeth Matthews, who is in
her 12th season at Barry Island, said: “I love helping the many
interesting people I meet, including visitors from overseas.”
The survey also revealed that 98 per cent of respondents rated
the friendliness of staff as good or excellent, and jovial John
Rogers, a former Barry Island Holiday Camp Redcoat who has worked
at both centres since 2002, said: “We're a great team and it's
always nice to be back.”
In addition to their normal work, the centres also help
co-ordinate the Penarth Pier brass plaque scheme. The popular
initiative allows visitors and residents to purchase plaques to be
laid on the pier decking to remember someone or to commemorate a
special date/anniversary. All profits generated are reinvested in
the upkeep of the pier.
For more information, telephone Penarth on 029 2070 8849 or
Barry Island on 01446 747171. You can also email barrytic@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or
penarthtic@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you may wish to view the website at www.visitthevale.com.
Caption: Tourist information co-ordinator
Carolyn Spiller (centre), senior tourist information assistant
Elizabeth Matthews and tourist information assistant John Rogers at
the Barry Island Tourist Information Centre.
31/03/2008