Tourism Indochina: World Tourism News: Olympics Tourism Boost Sails Into Weymouth

Olympics Tourism Boost Sails Into Weymouth

At 120 miles from London, the Sailing host town Weymouth is one of the furthest Olympic venues from the capital.

The sleepy seaside resort in Dorset was chosen for the event in 2005 - because of its internationally acclaimed sailing waters.

The town was promised that the event would boost the local economy, support tourism and put Weymouth on the international stage.

Sky News has spoken to the family-run Channel Hotel on the Seafront, which has been booked up since Christmas.

Owner Chris Reay said he chose not to raise prices at the hotel to capitalise on the Olympics.

"Some of them (local hotels) do show dramatic increases in price. That's something that we decided not to do because we were looking at the long-term picture of wanting to bring people back in the future."

Other businesses, however, are concerned that the event is driving the ordinary tourism trade away.

Tracy Welch, who works at a local ice cream shop, said: "It hasn't been particularly brilliant. A lot of the road closures have put a lot of people off coming in, and it all seems to be down by the Pavilion rather than up this end (of town)."

The event though will give the area international exposure and the new sailing facilities are world class.

Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation, with a squad of 16 sailors including triple gold medallist Ben Ainslie.

Local people hope the Olympic sparkle remains once the competitors have sailed away from the Dorset coast.

Source: SkyNews/29July2012

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