Tendring District Council has decided to go ahead with a plan to develop a mobile app to promote leisure and tourism within its boundaries.
It has taken on cloud solutions company Amido to lead the project, with the cost of development projected at just below £90,000 and annual running and support costs at £6,000.
The idea was originally proposed to the council’s cabinet in February and, following negotiations that have reduced the initial cost, it has won the go ahead for development.
Amido said the app will help to promote events in the area that will support the local tourism economy, and increase income to the council through increased ticket sales, leisure centre membership and enabling e-donations to the Clacton Airshow. It will include event schedules, timetables and guides.
Mick Skeels, Tendring’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: “We hope that by developing this app we can better promote out leisure and tourism offer directly into people’s hands – particularly through the use of notifications.
“As well as helping to boost our own income, and therefore taking some of the pressure of government funding cuts off taxpayers, by promoting everything Tendring has to offer we also hope to support the wider economy, of which tourism is a dominant sector worth around £380 million every year.”
Image: Clacton-on-Sea by Sannse, CC BY-SA 3.0 through Wikipedia