Dumfries & Galloway tourism Sector must prepare for digital switchover
More than half of hoteliers and B&B owners in the Border TV region are unprepared for next year’s switch to digital television according to research released today by Digital UK.
58% of accommodation providers questioned said they had not yet switched to digital ahead of the region’s switchover in the second quarter of 2009. Whilst 25% declared they had fully converted to digital, the remainder said they were prepared to some degree for the switchover.
With this lack of readiness for the switchover of the Caldbeck transmitter next year, tourism businesses in Dumfries & Galloway run a real risk of their guests being stuck with blank screens.
These figures were above the UK average with 47% of those questioned across Britain saying they had not switched to digital yet. Of those who had not switched to digital TV, 54% of those surveyed said they have no plans in place to do so.
The research, which was carried out for Digital UK, the organisation coordinating the national switch to digital television, shows that smaller hotels, B&Bs and caravan site owners are the least prepared, while larger chains have taken more steps to convert their equipment.
Of those UK-wide establishments which have already switched, 90% said that they had found the process easy or no harder than they had expected and 80% found the costs were in line with what they expected. More than three quarters were also satisfied with the new multi-channel television they were now able to offer to their guests.
Businesses are being urged plan for switchover now and where possible carry out any upgrading work.
To find out what digital services are available and after switchover, tourism businesses can log on to www.digitaluk.co.uk and click on the Postcode Checker.
Digital UK has already started working with organisations such as VisitScotland to spread the switchover message to all accommodation providers in Dumfries & Galloway and help advise them on how to prepare for the switchover.
Digital UK has set up a special hotline and website for tourism property managers, which gives details on when switchover is occurring region by region, how to switch and the likely costs. Letters will also be sent directly to tourism businesses with advice and information. The hotline is: 08458 455 455; website is: www.digitaluk.co.uk/propertymanagers
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