GIRVAN’S Tourist Information Point has joined forces with national tourist scheme to become a VisitScotland Information Parter (VIP).

Since Easter some 617 people have passed through the doors of the information centre to find about about notable characters from Girvan’s past, history, outdoor activities, and geology.

With the original tourist office closing some 15 years ago, volunteers of the current centre based in the Town House celebrated the new venture, with a strawberry tea last Thursday. 

Gordon Smith, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “The VIP programme celebrates and supports tourism providers as they act as local ambassadors and help provide information, assistance and advice on all there is to see and do here. 

“This follows a growing trend among consumers to use online resources to plan their trips and we now have partners throughout the country providing high quality information and advice to visitors with whom they interact.”

Using local knowledge, digital technology and a keen interest in promoting the area, members of the Information Point Team aim to assist visitors to discover Girvan and have the best customer experience possible.

New for 2018 is a Girvan town map, funded by local businesses and developed by the volunteers. The map is issued free to visitors at the office which is open seven days a week.

Future plans are to develop new information display boards to improve signposting for visitors to Girvan and the wider Carrick area, including the villages.

Tricia Watts, of Girvan Town Team, said: “Winifred Wright, local artist, played a large part in developing the Information Point from 2015 to date.  We could not do it without the wonderful volunteers; the Town Team helping with finance, and SAC providing the room.”