PART OF the fun of visiting new places is discovering what they have to offer.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s at the seaside, in the country or at the heart of a major city, there’s nothing quite like walking out of a railway station or stepping out of a car park with not the slightest clue where to go next.

One of the joys of Britain, especially given the relatively small size of it, is that there are always new places to visit and new experiences to be had. Be it their mix of architecture, their history, their industrial or rural past or their unique heritage and demography, everywhere is different.

Finding your way around – even getting lost – by exploring the streets or just following your nose can be a pleasure. For those without that hint of adventurous spirit, though, not having a clue where to go or what to see takes a great deal out of the enjoyment.

There is room, of course, for all sorts of visitors and the trick for any village, town or city that wants to welcome them is to make it as easy as they can for new people to enjoy it, helping them to leave with a positive memory and one that, hopefully, they will pass on to others.

For some parts of our district that’s not simply a nice thing to do but a vital requirement in maintaining the local economy and local employment.

Areas such as Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley need visitors, wherever they come from. And people who miss key aspects or attractions because they don’t know they exist are a lost opportunity.

Getting a coach to Haworth and touring The Parsonage before climbing back aboard and heading off is fine but the experience benefits only the coach operator and the museum.

It doesn’t benefit the pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes. It doesn’t benefit the souvenir and gift shops or any of the other small shops that rely on passing trade to stay afloat.

And it certainly doesn’t benefit the visitor; by not at least wandering down Haworth’s main street, for instance, they are missing out on a charming treat.

What they need to help them get the most out of encountering a new place is help and guidance, of the kind that Tourist Information Centres are best-placed to provide.

So it is disappointing that consultants brought in to review Bradford Council’s tourist offices have recommended closing the centres in Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley and retaining only the one in central Bradford.

It is easy to see where they’re coming from: the Council needs to make cuts and tourism is a soft target. It’s hard to argue that TICs are essential when there isn’t enough money to provide proper social care.

But there is a real danger that the longer-term impact on these places could be far more damaging than a short-term costs review might suggest.

The good news is that they may yet be saved by volunteers stepping forward to run them. Those who benefit most from tourism in these centres are those who live and work in them so there is a much to be said for such a circular solution.

But to thrive they will need a great deal of help.

Those consultants’ recommendations will be largely based on footfall numbers so those who will run these tourist offices need to know what’s going wrong and why more people aren’t using them.

And they should start by making them much easier to find. As a veteran traveller around this country, I’m always bemused by the fact that TICs are often tucked away and that there aren’t huge signs all over the place telling you where they are.

I happen to enjoy looking for them but many don’t. It’s like casting a big star in a movie and forgetting to give him any lines: the audience will be drawn to the cinema to watch it but will leave disappointed. And tell their friends not to bother....

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