29/11/11…Thame is ‘friendly & welcoming’ says survey

SATISFACTION is ‘on the up’ for visitors to South Oxfordshire market towns, including Thame, according to a new visitor survey.

The South Oxfordshire Visitor Study, carried out recently by South Oxfordshire District Council, found that the number of people who were satisfied with their visit to Thame, Henley, or Wallingford had increased over the past two years.

73 per cent of the 295 people who were questioned enjoyed their visit to the market towns, an increase of five per cent from the previous survey carried out in 2009, and perhaps even more impressively, the vast majority of visitors (91 per cent) indicated that they would recommend the market town to someone they know, a key factor in bringing more people into the area to explore the local shops or visit the market town attractions.

The survey revealed that Thame is seen by many as a friendly and welcoming town (83 per cent), and rated highly as a good place to go for a drink or something to eat (78 per cent), with a good choice of interesting shops for visitors to explore (79 per cent). This resulted in the town achieving an overall satisfaction rate of 64 per cent, with 93 per cent saying they would recommend the town to other people, a six per cent increase from 2009.

“This highlights the good work carried out by 21st Century Thame which has organised a series of events and helped bring about new facilities in the town,” says SODC in its press release, referring to projects like the Food Festival, a new Shopping guide and information boards, Blue plaques and Historic walks leaflets, etc.

Wallingford experienced the biggest increase in the level of satisfaction that visitors felt about the town, with 71 per cent enjoying their time there, up 12 per cent from the previous survey. An impressive 91 per cent also said that they would recommend the town to someone else, an increase of 14 per cent on previous results.

Henley also continues to enjoy a high level of satisfaction (75 per cent), with 92 per cent of people saying they would recommend the town to someone they know and 80 per cent feeling that the town makes the most of its links to the River Thames.

Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, cabinet member for economic development for South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?The survey proves that South Oxfordshire continues to have market towns to be proud of; places which visitors enjoy spending time in, and which have shops and attractions that make people want to come back time and time again.

?We are keen to continue improving the visitor experience and will be working with the various town councils, representative bodies, businesses and community groups over the coming months and years on a number of recommendations and projects resulting from this survey to ensure that this happens.?