Thursday, May 15, 2008

Only One Port In A Storm

According to our port's latest publicity bumf, Oostende is apparently the only continental destination available from Ramsgate. Well, call me old-fashioned, but I thought if you were in a boat you could pretty much go wherever you like, so it seems rather limiting to advertise the port's services in favour of its one and only customer - TransEuropa Ferries. And if we're only going to advertise their route, why aren't they paying for this sort of marketing mullarkey rather than the beleaguered council taxpayers?

Anyhoo, I thought I'd bone up on Oostende (Ostend in old money) and managed to get hold of their impressive tourist magazine, which is described in the intro as 'bursting with sensuousness'. 50 glossy pages chock full of photos, maps and places to see and stay, it does indeed make the place look like a veritable tourism paradise. And most of their marvellous monuments appear to have been restored or kept in spic and span nick! Oh to be Belgian!

Click here to visit Oostende tourism website
Click here to visit Thanet tourism website

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also caught site of this impressive Belgian tourist brochure in the Belgian Bar...whilst attending the grumpy old men meeting [we meet at 07:00 every morning].

It puts our own in the shade - that's for sure. But then again has Thanet got a tourist industry left?

Anonymous said...

Why isn't there anyone putting the pressure on TDC and Transeuropa to offer footpassengersailings?

Both town would benefit from it.
Passengers arriving at Ramsgate see nothing of the town.

I used sail from Oostende loads of times on daytrips/short stays to Ramsgate.
Now I come over 2 times a year and it makes me sad to see the port and town deteriorating.

The port needs investment and if TDC can't provide it then they should look pivate.

Linda said...

Well I personally think Ostend is quite a nice place. But think of the revenue we could get from day trippers travelling to either Calais/Bolougne! Still not worth considering I suppose as Mr Ezekiel is still keen on Ramsgate being the servicing department for the London Array ( I am not so sure it will happen now), and little if any money being spent by TDC on dredging. Perhaps we could declare the sandbank as a country, issue our own money and duty free!!!

Linda said...

Well I personally think Ostend is quite a nice place. But think of the revenue we could get from day trippers travelling to either Calais/Bolougne! Still not worth considering I suppose as Mr Ezekiel is still keen on Ramsgate being the servicing department for the London Array ( I am not so sure it will happen now), and little if any money being spent by TDC on dredging. Perhaps we could declare the sandbank as a country, issue our own money and duty free!!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Linda, didn't quite catch that... say again

Anonymous said...

Again tdc seem to be clasping at short straws to advertise what remains left of thanet in their hands.

Anonymous said...

ahhhhh

Thse where the days, duty free, foot passengers.

Did not TDC purchase the killer walkway and at public expense renew it? Now its never used what a waste...much like TDC - you can bank on that?