TIC vital for future prosperity (From Thisisdorset)

So you get off the train or bus with all your luggage with a few kids in tow. You wait until you see one of these wayfarers and then ask them for a list of reasonably priced B&B's????? Another 3 or 4 jobs gone with the accumulated knowledge of years.
Of course we need a TIC. This council really wants to raze Weymouth to the ground. Just look around.

albula40 wrote:
So you get off the train or bus with all your luggage with a few kids in tow. You wait until you see one of these wayfarers and then ask them for a list of reasonably priced B&B's????? Another 3 or 4 jobs gone with the accumulated knowledge of years.
Of course we need a TIC. This council really wants to raze Weymouth to the ground. Just look around.

Seriously? you honestly think people just turn up " with all your luggage with a few kids in tow" ? WITHOUT already having booked accommodation ! You are living in cloud cuckoo land.

albula40, you're so wrong! People do this all the time. We've got friends who take their young family to visit somewhere, and find that they like it so much, they decide to stay. TIC's are a great place to book last minute, and crack a bargain with local B&B's. They know who's got vacancies, and have local knowledge that others don't. We've always used them wherever we go in the country. We wouldn't dream of turning up 'on spec', but people do, and that's what TIC's are for! Personally, we've found the staff at Weymouth really helpful, especially for our National Express tickets. I thought Mike's speech at the meeting was very well put over, and I hope he manages to find employers who value him in the future. The same goes to all who work with him. The loss of any valued staff is always sad, especially to the more experienced members, because of their knowledge and expertise, so they deserve better. It'll be a sad loss to the town to lose those years of expertise.

prestonpete wrote:
albula40, you're so wrong! People do this all the time. We've got friends who take their young family to visit somewhere, and find that they like it so much, they decide to stay. TIC's are a great place to book last minute, and crack a bargain with local B&B's. They know who's got vacancies, and have local knowledge that others don't. We've always used them wherever we go in the country. We wouldn't dream of turning up 'on spec', but people do, and that's what TIC's are for! Personally, we've found the staff at Weymouth really helpful, especially for our National Express tickets. I thought Mike's speech at the meeting was very well put over, and I hope he manages to find employers who value him in the future. The same goes to all who work with him. The loss of any valued staff is always sad, especially to the more experienced members, because of their knowledge and expertise, so they deserve better. It'll be a sad loss to the town to lose those years of expertise.

Well said!

TIC's are great when they are open, ours seems to close quite early.

Could it be that you're visiting in winter? Perhaps if you are, they may be closing at a time that suits the season / customer demand, to ensure that the best financial value is obtained. At least they're open at all though eh? Which is more than can be said for the Weymouth TIC after 31st May.

I was directed to their webpage by a colleague they open at 09:30 all year round and close at 16:00 in the winter and 17:00 in the summer. They book accomodation by phone or in person. Even Dorchester has got on-line accomodation booking.
Would we miss the TIC if it went?

niceonecyril wrote:

albula40 wrote:
So you get off the train or bus with all your luggage with a few kids in tow. You wait until you see one of these wayfarers and then ask them for a list of reasonably priced B&B's????? Another 3 or 4 jobs gone with the accumulated knowledge of years.
Of course we need a TIC. This council really wants to raze Weymouth to the ground. Just look around.

Seriously? you honestly think people just turn up " with all your luggage with a few kids in tow" ? WITHOUT already having booked accommodation ! You are living in cloud cuckoo land.

I own a guest house and many many people arrive without bookings. You are so wrong to think that is not the case and people who think like this is why the TIC is closing as local people have no understanding of the importance that the service offers.
Not only does it help pople find accommodation, but advertises attractions, restuarants, bus times etc.
If people haven't got the TIC to service what they need, we will lose tourist attractions, which means tourism will fall, which means restuarants, bars, shops, taxi ranks wil close, which means we will lose more bus routes. The impact on this is huge and as a local person you must understand this. Our main economy for the town is tourism without it we have no income, which means no jobs.
I understand cuts have to be made but our economy (tourism) MUST be safeguarded.