WORCESTERSHIRE is already well known for certain local produce – from Lea & Perrins sauce to fresh asparagus.
The Queen is said to favour Malvern Water and no kitchen cupboard is complete without authentic Worcestershire Sauce.
Adrian Field, business improvement district (BID) manager for VisitWorcester – the organisation responsible for city centre management, events and tourism in Worcester – believes local flavours help boost tourism and independent shops will keep them coming back.
“The independent businesses give Worcester its unique identity,” he said.
“They ensure that it is has a good mix of outlets and isn’t a clone of other towns and cities with row-upon-row of multiple stores and restaurants.
“They are important because they allow for greater personal interaction with the customer.
“People tend to find out more about what they are purchasing because the people they are buying from are invariably the ones who know where the produce was sourced.
“Visitors appreciate that and good customer service is an important factor in determining whether visitors have a good experience of Worcester, whether they will choose to come back and whether they will recommend it to friends.”
Last Thursday thousands of people attended the start of the Great British Asparagus Festival in Evesham.
The crisp, green vegetable has been grown in Worcestershire for hundreds of years and asparagus events are being held throughout the coming weeks.
From Wednesday, May 13, dedicated coach tours will take people to see asparagus being grown, taste different varieties, and visit the only asparagus exhibition in the world.
On Sunday, May 24, the world famous asparagus auction will take place at the Fleece Inn, Bretforton, near Evesham, as part of two days of asparagus-themed festivities there.
For more information on events connected with the asparagus festival visit britishasparagusfestival.org or e-mail info@britishasparagusfestival.org
Chris and Sheila Martin run the Little Boynes bed and breakfast cottages in Upper Hook Road, Upton-upon-Severn, and say tourists who expect local flair in Worcestershire will not be disappointed.
“We specifically market local businesses,” said Mr Martin.
“We put out apple juice made by Clive’s Fruit Farm for the people who come to stay and we provide information on tourism attractions within a 10-mile radius.”
Each week Malvern Tourist Information Centre produces a comprehensive What’s On list of local events, from craft fairs to dance classes. Mr Martin said it is hugely popular and appreciated by all.
“It means hundreds of events, which would not ordinarily be promoted nationally, get some coverage and people visiting the area know what's going on,” he said.
“I don’t know of any other tourist information centres which do that. I can’t praise the service highly enough.”
Contact the information centre for a copy on 01684 892289 or download it from malvern.whub.org.uk
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