Visitor centres scoop gold in tourism awards
Dartmoor’s National Park Visitor Centres have scooped Gold in the Devon Tourism Awards 2021/22.
The three National Park Visitor Centres, at Haytor, Postbridge and Princetown, are staffed by friendly and knowledgeable advisers who are happy to help people make the most of their time on Dartmoor.
Each centre is stocked with maps, books, guides and leaflets, as well as gifts and products from the Dartmoor Range.
Rebecca Martin, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Visitor Services Manager, said: “We’re delighted with our Gold award and thanks go to Authority staff and Information Advisers who are at the forefront of the services we deliver.
“The last two years have been testing for all of us but our focus on great customer service has continued. In 2020, we opened our new extension to our visitor centre at Postbridge and in 2021 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Dartmoor being designated a National Park. Our special exhibition runs until 24 April so there’s still time to visit!
“We’re now looking forward to a busy 2022 and seeing new and frequent visitors enjoy everything Dartmoor has to offer.”
The Authority was among 67 finalists revealed in 24 categories an online ceremony on Thursday 10 March. The centres scooped gold in the ‘visitor information service of the year’ category and now go through to the regional awards ceremony on April 7 at Sandy Park, Exeter.
Deborah Heather of headline sponsors Quality in Tourism says: “It's such a privilege and an honour for the Quality in Tourism to be headline sponsors of these awards, and extra special for me as Devon is also my home. I am always motivated and inspired by the entries and the finalists, with this year being extra special given the resilience of the businesses and the drive and initiative they have shown to become tourism’s leading businesses of 2021/22. Congratulations to all.”
Sally Everton, Director of Visit Devon, said: “The Devon Tourism Awards showers positivity on what has been the most challenging two years for so many tourism businesses across Devon. With some definite light now at the end of what has been a very gloomy tunnel, the awards give a massive boost to the tourism industry who are able to celebrate something as special as these prestigious awards. We can't wait to be able to get back and do this in person!”
Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism added: “Each year as we announce the winners I flag all the winners in my mind with a view to sampling every one of them – and at last, with covid hopefully now behind us, I intend to put this wish into practice. I very much hope others will do the same.”
