I make an annual pilgrimage to P.G. to catch up with buddies. I believe P.G. has so much to offer visitors - family cycling, railway museum, winery, etc. and, when combined with natural resourses - great fishing centre, Ancient Forest - P.G. is basically sitting on a gold mine.
Exaggerated? I think not.
When I came to a village in Cornwall in England, there were very few tourists. We started a cycle hire shop, got together with all the other attractions, produced a joint leaflet (much cheaper than doing individually and then promoted each other. The result at the last count by the authorities was some 300,000 people who visit the area per annum. The average spend figure is 20 dollars per head so $6 million goes into the local economy.
It just requires a little coordination and not a lot of funding. P.G. has a really impressive tourist information centre. Perhaps they could boost their cycle hire by getting everyone together.
Tourism is like a wheelbarrow. It's not going anywhere unless you push it. See you all next year.
Nigel Wiggett, Cornwall, England
