Survey to assess impact of tourism on Abingdon starts (From Bicester Advertiser)

Survey to assess impact of tourism on Abingdon starts

6:10pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in News

A GROUNDBREAKING project to assess the impact of tourism on Abingdon has been launched.

Businesses and members of the public are being urged to take part in market research which not only aims to gauge the number of tourists visiting the town and where they come from but also what can be done to attract more, in a bid to boost its economy.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Choose Abingdon Partnership, an organisation made up of civic and business leaders, which has called in national charities Hidden Britain and Action for Market Towns to help build the picture.

Paul Townsend, president of the Abingdon Chamber of Commerce and board member of the partnership, said: “At the moment we don’t know what impact tourism is having. No recent survey has been carried out and we don’t know who the tourists are and why they come here.

“The survey is looking at who is coming to Abingdon and what suggestions they have to improve it. We just want to make sure we are going down the right track.”

Mr Townsend stressed how much there was for tourists to see such as the newly revamped museum, which has undergone a £3m refit, the Thames and the Abbey ruins.

To take part in the survey, email heather.brown@chooseabingdon.co.uk