Touring Park to accept foreign currency

A TOURING park in Somerset has hit on a novel new way of attracting foreign tourists: From March 2007 it will be accepting the Euro.

Fairways Touring Caravan and Camping Park, in Bawdrip, Somerset, is making the bold move in a bid to attract more overseas visitors – and their cash – into the area.

“Years ago we had a lot of international visitors, but that has gone downhill, and we want to attract them back again,” said site owner Clive Walker.

“To become a truly international site you have to accept foreign currency – the most obvious one being the euro,” he continued.

From March 2007 Fairways will be the only site in the UK to be charging in both pounds and euros  - although Clive hopes that, where he leads, others will follow.

“We will be the first one, but someone has to set a precedent – and if we are getting really busy with foreign visitors, other parks are going to have to follow suit.”

It’s a market which, Clive believes, could be rich in rewards – “In the Netherlands 90-95% of people have a tent or caravan, compared with only 2% in Britain – so there is loads of untapped business out there – it’s a huge potential market.

“and instead of taking their left over currency to be exchanged, people from the UK can come and spend their Euros with us!"

For more information call Fairways on 01278 685569. From March 2007 pitches will start from £10 or €14.

News