Hotels urged to make car-free tourist deals (From Thisisdorset)

Hotels urged to make car-free tourist deals

7:00pm Monday 4th June 2007 in News By Louise Isaacs

TOURISM bosses in the New Forest are encouraging hotels and attractions to offer discounts and incentives to visitors if they leave their cars at home.

Under the Green Leaf Tourism Scheme, which is being officially launched later this month, car free packages are being developed which will also involve deals if you travel to the forest via train.

While some of the packages are aimed at tourists some can also be accessed by local residents, say tourism chiefs.

Some seven million people visit the forest every year.

Paul Fulford, sustainable tourism officer at the district council, said: We are all working together to make the New Forest the greenest destination in the UK. We are encouraging the tourism industry to offer discounts, incentives and opportunities to reduce car use while on holiday.

"Some hotels are offering permanent car-free discounts to visitors that travel down via train. Guests staying at Green Leaf' accommodation providers will also be given two for one offers at nearby forest attractions, he added.

The popular New Forest Tour - open top buses - is being run again this summer although starting this year it will also stop at train stations before heading off into the forest.

"Taking the tour is a brilliant excuse to leave your car at home, helping reduce both traffic and carbon emissions in the forest," said Karen Evans, communications officer at the New Forest Park Authority.

"The hop-on, hop-off buses are also low in emissions and join up with other car-free initiatives in the forest and link with the local rail network and bus routes."

Christina Simons, chair of the New Forest Tourism Association hotels group, said: "Car-free tourism hasn't just been plucked out of the air. It's part of a strategy spearheaded by key people within the forest to minimise our carbon footprint."

For more details log onto thenewforesttour.info or thenewforest.co.uk/car_free.html