A group of ten Italian tourism trade professionals
were among the first professional visitors to receive the full charm treatment
as Somerset’s tourism leaders sought to correct worldwide misconceptions about
the recent winter flooding.
It appears that the bad news has travelled as far
as India, so the ten prominent Italians were shovelled into a carriage on the
West Somerset Railway last week to be shown that Somerset is very much open for
business. With the railway celebrating its spring gala, and with not a single
puddle in sight, it went well for Somerset businesses, who are working to
correct the impression that the whole of Somerset has been disrupted by floods.
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| The Somerset countryside at its very best |
The Italians are exploring Somerset and its
attractions, as part of a visit arranged by Visit Somerset and Visit Britain, and
were soon made aware that only a tiny percentage of the county has been
affected by the well publicised flooding. However, this hasn’t stopped tour
operators and holiday companies experiencing cancellations.
Last Friday, the Italians travelled from Bishops Lydeard,
the southern terminus of the West Somerset Railway, to Dunster station, in the
shadow of the 1,000-year-old castle, which is now in the care of the National
Trust. The visitors were entertained to lunch in the picturesque village by
Anthony Brunt of Exmoor Tourism.
In recent weeks Mr Brunt and John Simms of the
railway's commercial department have attended a number of national and
international travel trade shows and found a widespread impression that the
whole of the county was flooded rather than the reality that more than 95 per
cent is open and keen for business.
"The idea has even spread as far as
India," said Mr Simms. "It is very much hoped that the good word
getting back to Italy will boost visitor numbers in the latter part of 2015 and
on into 2016 and beyond."
The gala ran until last night, commemorating the
50th anniversary of the ending of two parts of the railway history of South
West England. In the last years of the steam services the regular locomotives
were the Great Western "Moguls".
Only one example of this class of
more than 300 machines still survives in working order and number 5322, built
at Swindon in 1917, has been hired-in especially from the Didcot Railway Centre
for the gala. The veteran locomotive served in France during the First World
War.
It is feared the floods could mean 2014 is a
difficult year for tourism in the county after a strong performance last year,
with tourism business up 50 per cent on 2012.
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