New guide will help boosttourism in the Rye area

And social media is being used to the fore to promote the town with an associated website, smart phone app and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The full colour Official Visitor’s Guide has been produced by Rye Bay Marketing Ltd, a not for profit company comprised of members of Rye and District Chamber of Commerce and Rye and District Hotels and Caterers Association.

It is packed with information and detailed maps of the area as well as containing informative articles on the history of Rye and Winchelsea, as well an article of Rye Castle Museum and Rye’s links with art and literature.

Rye Bay Marketing Group has been developing Rye’s strong links with Romney Marsh and the other Cinque Ports Towns.

The Guide has a large print run of 130,000 copies.

John Smith, of Rye Bay Marketing, said: “The Guide also has a comprehensive website, which is managed by us, a smart phone app and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“It is also worth noting that last year’s Guide was the first ever guide to the area to feature a QR code on the front, as does this year’s edition.

“We are particularly proud of this year’s Guide, which not only promotes the town but, more importantly the entire Rye Bay area.

“It is 33 percent larger than last year’s Guide and at 64 pages is the largest and most comprehensive guide ever produced for the Rye area.”

The Guide also contains a full calendar of events happening through the year and has a Rye Antiques Trail map.

One of the articles in the Guide features a guide to Tilling - the fictional name used by author E F Benson in his Mapp and Lucia novels.

There is also comprehensive coverage of Rye Harbour, Camber and Romney Marsh.

John Smith said: “One of our main priorities is to engage with our surrounding districts , especially Romney marsh and Shepway as this is very much an integral part of the Cinque Ports and the visitor experience of the area.”

The mascot for this year’s guide is rascally Rye pirate Captain Pugwash, created by the late John Ryan who lived in Rye for many years.

There is a competition for children in its pages to find images of Captain Pugwash.

Other features of the Guide include a comprehensive list of accommodation providers in Rye and the surrounding area.

Rye Bay Marketing say that work is already underway on the 2014 Guide.

John Smith said: “ We are already working on this and have many innovative ideas and enhancements in mind.”

The Guide is available from Rye Heritage Centre, at the Strand, and at various attractions and outlets around the town including hotels, pubs and restaurants.