SHORTLISTING SUCCESS FOR VISITOR INFORMATION

Margate and Ramsgate's Visitor Information Centres have been jointly shortlisted as a finalist in regional awards for the Tourist Information Service of the Year.

The Tourism ExSEllence Awards, organised by Tourism South East, recognise excellence, quality and innovation and award categories cover all sectors of the industry, from bed and breakfast businesses to hotels and visitor experiences.

Thanet will be competing against Brighton, Portsmouth and Windsor, with the winner due to be announced at an awards ceremony in October. Regional winners will go on to compete in the national EnjoyEngland Awards for Excellence in 2010.

The shortlisting comes after the transformation of both the service and the team, including the refurbishment of both centres, with the team working more closely with the local community and tourism businesses and the introduction of additional facilities, such as public Internet access, increased booking facilities and a wider range of local gifts.

Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: "Just to be short-listed shows just how much progress our Visitor Information service has made over the last 18 months. Much of that is down to the commitment and hard work of our Information Team and the support provided by the council and our tourism groups, such as the Isle of Thanet Tourism Association, Margate and Ramsgate Town Partnerships and the Broadstairs Tourism and Leisure Association."