'Things to do' app to be launched

01/12/2011 @ 01:36

Partners are being sought for a ‘Wales Things to Do’ App for smart phones, which is being developed by an innovative organisation representing tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales.

Mid Wales Tourism (MWT) developing the app which will provide a comprehensive guide to things to see and do across Wales. Scheduled to be launched before the end of 2011, the app will be free to download. A limited number of sponsor pages are available.

Promoting all the main visitor attractions and activities in Wales, it will utilise the iPhone’s in-built GPS signal, enabling visitors and local people to source information in their immediate vicinity as they travel around the country.

Visitor attractions and activity venues published to the app will be able to amend or update their business details online via Guestlink.co.uk booking channel.

Tourism and hospitality businesses are being urged to ensure that their details are up to date with 2012 prices and opening hours, so that they are able to take full advantage of the app.

“With the ongoing decline in Tourist Information Centres, tourist information is becoming more difficult to find and, with the increase in smart phones, there’s no need to guess where the visitors are now turning to for answers,” said MWT’s chief executive Val Hawkins.

“The app is aimed primarily at staying visitors, independent explorers, families and day visitors. It is designed to be used by visitors both pre-visit and whilst they are in Wales.

“The user-friendly design will allow visitors to search, check out what’s ‘around me’ or opt for a featured area, product type or theme. The potential market for this app is huge.

“It will offer a sophisticated search facility and when a visitor crosses the Welsh border the really clever bit kicks in. Using GPS technology, the app will locate the user and, using Google maps, will plot a range of tourist attractions, activities and even bookable accommodation within a user-specified radius.”

Accommodation providers, who can also be featured, will be encouraged to publicise the app to visitors both before and when they arrive and it will also be promoted in key regional online and offline channels, including Bedroom Browsers and websites at local and national levels.

For more information about featuring tourism businesses on the app contact Mrs Hawkins on val@midwalestourism.co.uk.