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Questions asked why Eastbourne tourist website is under-achieving
A FLAGSHIP tourism website designed to attract more business to the town is failing to hit the targets set by Eastbourne Borough Council.
Visiteastbourne.com was launched by the local authority to act as a one-stop shop for anyone planning on visiting the town and the hope was it would generate tens of thousands of pounds in additional business.
However, data released this month show that while 4.1million people visited the site during the last quarter, just £22,610 came in as a result of online bookings.
Added to the results for the previous period of £47,345, the overall sum leaves the site looking increasingly likely of falling shy of the 2011/21 target of £175,000 and has left some opposition councillors questioning the efficiency of the service.
Discussing the web figures recently, Conservative Councillor Tom Liddiard asked, “Why has more not been done to address this?” describing the lack of hits being turned into hard cash as “shameful.”
The council’s head of tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley, said the site had undergone a lot of work and that the disappointing results could be explained in part to seasonal differences.
He said, “Online bookings through visiteastbourne.com fluctuate throughout the year with Eastbourne’s busy summer months and packed events programme tending to bring the highest booking value.
“With fierce competition for online services, particularly accommodation booking agents, we are always looking to improve and boost our offer for Eastbourne.
“During the past year we launched the new visiteastbourne.com website with improved navigation and a more contemporary design, and over the next few months we will be working on a new mobile website, with the option for visitors to book on the go.
“These channels are supported by visiteastbourne’s popular social media profiles, which are growing on a daily basis, reaching new audiences for Eastbourne and adding value with competitions and special offers.”
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
HotelGuy
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 05:54 PMWhat harsh words, from several individuals, regarding Eastbourne itself. Happy that Im not a member of the council myself, nor responsible for turning the town around, as ever there seems to be a divide between those who love Eastbourne and those who feel it is stuck in the Victorian Era with its many Victorian hotels up and down the promenade. Whilst modernisation and several new attractions would be fantastic, I have my doubts that heavy investment into new things to do in Eastbourne, local attractions etc would return the profits desired. Even the local drinking holes are having a time of it, just paying bills and struggling to stay in business. The downturn on Eastbourne hotel bookings via the council may also in part have to do with other sites emerging, like www.eastbourneguide.com - There is plenty to do in Eastbourne there. Times are tough. Officially now in a double dip recession, I can only wish everyone well if you are an Eastbourne hotel or venue owner... and wait for the economy to pick up.
Malcolm Rasala
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 02:04 PMCheck out www.cannes.travel?lang=en for what a 2012 seaside website should like. Doubtless the Eastbourne website was created with great intentions. But it is dated. It looks tired. Much like the town centre of Eastbourne. The Downs and most of the suburbs surrounding the town are largely brilliant. So there is much to advertise. Much to appeal. But if our town is to compete in the dynamicglobal business of tourism we have to look relevant and now. Looking like something out of the 1950's will simply not work anymore. This is the reason the website is not working. Come on guys we can do better. Surely? If you need assistance to make a great website contact creatives@realcreatives.com (see www.realcreatives.com)
Carter
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:33 PMWho wants a 'one stop shop' for hotel booking? If I'm booking a room I'm going to visit a number of websites to compare costs and read reviews to make sure I pick the right one. As it stands the website looks really good and is intuitive to use; the photography is good and the design well considered. However put 'hotels eastbourne' into google chrome and the website is result no.12, below the hotels' own websites with prices displayed and reviews one click away from the results page. It's a shame that this website has to generate booking revenue to pay for itself, I thought my council tax paid for that.
Badger48
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:30 PMThe Council's tourism department are next to useless. Magnificent Motors was moved to Princes Park at the windy, boring end of the seafront with the French market retainimg it's place on the prom netween pier and Wish Tower; two events on the same weekend at opposite ends of the seafront. No auto jumble stalls at Magnificent Motors and an ideal opportunity to showcase local garage and car trimming services completely ignored. Whilst the expanded use of the bandstand on Summer evenings is excellent a lot more work on encouraging visitors and promoting local businesses needs to be carried out. I certainly agree that Council departments need to be more accessible and responsive.
roneoron
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:13 PMThese EBC bozos leave me almost speechless. How much money was thrown at this useless website? My old Dad used to say that "you can coat a lump of poo with sprinkles, but underneath it's still a lump of poo" and that's exactly what this archaic council is trying, very unsuccessfully, to do. The town is very firmly stuck in the late 19th to mid 20th century with its dull architecture, no good eateries, lack of modern entertainment for either adults or children, tired, past their sell-by date and very expensive hotels that only the wealthy elderly can afford. An out of date and half empty shopping centre, closed down and burnt out shops. And this is compounded by charging drivers anywhere they might seek to park and spend money, and having the ever lurking stopwatch, ruler and camera toting Blue Meanies always at the ready to ruin a holiday. To my mind local councils are expensive throwbacks to the days when the local bigwigs made the rules. They cost mega-bucks and accomplish nothing other than ruining local economies, failing to take care of public buildings, as in the Wish Tower Restaurant, and generating a lot of hot air. The only modern happening in Eastbourne is Terminus Road and its immediate area on Friday and Saturday nights when it becomes a magnet for fighting, vomiting and urinating youth. Not exactly an attraction for tourists. And Sweiry Sam, most of the entertainments you mention are either not suitable for children or only for the very well heeled. The reason Sovereign Harbour is largely ignored is that it caters largely for the yachting fraternity who don't tend to explore much beyond the harbour chandlery. It's always cold and windy in the Harbour, with the feel of the ghetto about it. Not a place you want to explore very often Sam. Money needs to be spent, and if there is no money, then forget tourism and just make the place comfortable for those unfortunate enough to live there!
chrisE
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:59 AMI feel that the local paper is also a contributor. It regulalry misses many events and others ate mentioned after they have happened. The Herlad needs to take a more proactive approach. Why do you review shows at the end of their run, why not send a reviewer to the previous venue (which are often nearby). Having lived here for 10 years I feel you have a lot to answer for. As for EB Council. They are a lost cause. Many times I have tried to contact various departments and people are either 'out of the office' or nobody has a clue who you should speak to, letters going unaswered and staff just can't be bothered. A massive clean up of the council staff is called for.
sweirysam@aol.com
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:24 AMCome on, Who are you kidding? keep ignoring to highlight all the wounderful things Eastbourne has to offer for younger visitors and there families and you are in deep trouble. For a start Why are you ignoring Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour Tourist Facilities such as Deep Sea Fishing, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Power Boat Adventure & Ride, Harbour Boat Trip, RNLI Regatta, The Dragon Race not to forget those Cyclist, Walkers & visiting Caravan Owner plus of course the many visitors who come to Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour by sea from France, Belgium, Neitherland, Germany, Scandinavian Countries. Town Hall Staff who are involved with Tourism dont ignore Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour and many other attractions available in and around Eastbourne. Sam Sweiry in the North Harbour
Kazz
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:21 AMWe were living outside of Britain until we moved back last year, and when we wanted to visit our relatives we had to book accommodation. We DID use the visiteastbourne site, but found it unnecessarily confusing. To book a room through the website seemed totally out of date, with strange dates appearing and no way of knowing if the place in question was monitoring bookings made through the site. I used e-mail to contact one place, and Skype phone to contact the other, so we could verify everything - availability, room types, cot, highchair, etc. So although we did find the places where we wanted to stay online, we felt it was safer to book with them directly. As for what's on in Eastbourne, even now I still can't find out when the European markets are on - even when they ARE on and I look on the site I can't find them! So I don't know what else is missing, but it's not exactly a reliable guide to what's happening in Eastbourne.
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