Ambassador role for Norfolk taxi-drivers?
Norwich and Great Yarmouth taxi drivers could become tourism ambassadors.
Norwich taxi drivers could be asked to act as "front-line ambassadors" for their city.
A plan being championed in Great Yarmouth could see the town's 600-strong army of taxi drivers used to promote the resort - and it could catch on in the city.
Under a proposal first suggested by Yarmouth councillor Mike Butcher, banter about John Terry's alleged shenanigans or revelations that "I drove Jim Davidson in the back of my cab" could soon be replaced by helpful advice on local attractions.
Details have still to be worked out, but it is likely drivers will be galvanised through such incentives as free tickets to attractions or a monthly employee/driver of the month award.
At a preliminary meeting with the bosses of two of the town's largest taxi firms, Swifts and Albies, the first reaction was that it is a brilliant idea.
And on hearing what their coastal neighbours are planning, Norwich taxi firms are backing the idea to work in the city too - and the owner of one firm has even sent a challenge to the city council to work on its own version of the scheme.
Yarmouth tourism officer Alan Carr said: "Mike organised the meeting to get the taxi firms to appreciate the value of putting out positive messages to put our visitors in a positive frame of mind.
"I know some drivers do it already but others probably don't have sufficient information at the moment and that's down to us."
Mr Carr suggested drivers could be helped into their new role as "travelling information centres" by being sent a weekly or monthly news letter.
They might then be encouraged to start talking about up-coming events, such as next week's Mardi Gras, or, in September, the Maritime Festival.
Drivers might be primed on local attractions and regeneration projects in the town and even given literature to hand out - the reverse of their business cards might be used to promote the scheme or Yarmouth or both.
He said: "There are 600 drivers in the borough, all of whom meet thousands of visitors every month, and there is the potential for them to become key front-line ambassadors for the town."
Simon Callender, boss of ABC Taxis in Norwich, said: "This would seem like a good idea here as well. Anything that is positive for the city has got to be good."
He said the city council should be encouraged to work on a similar
scheme.
A spokesman for Beeline, in Norwich, agreed it was a good idea, especially if there were incentives for drivers, but said he was confident many of their drivers already spoke to visitors about attractions such as the Castle Museum.
Ü Would you like to see taxi drivers as ambassadors for Norwich? Write to eveningnews
source:
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/
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