Visitor center

{{Short description|Location providing tourists information}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2010}} [[File:The Visitor Centre at Bempton Cliffs - geograph.org.uk - 2950651.jpg|thumb|Visitor center at the Bempton Cliffs nature reserve in England]] [[File:Wallendbeen sign.jpg|thumb|The simplest form of visitor center is an information board, such as this one in Wallendbeen, Australia]] A '''visitor center''', '''visitor information center''' or '''tourist information center''' is a physical location that provides information to tourists.<ref name=dvc>{{cite web | last = Macmillan Dictionary | author-link = Macmillan Dictionary | title = definition of visitor center | url = http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/visitor-center | access-date = 22 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Types== A visitor center may be a civic center at a specific attraction or place of interest, such as a landmark, national park, national forest, or state park, providing information (such as trail maps, and about camp sites, staff contact, restrooms, etc.) and in-depth educational exhibits and artifact displays (for example, about natural or cultural history). Often a film or other media display is used. If the site has permit requirements or guided tours, the visitor center is often the place where these are coordinated.

A tourist information center provides visitors with information on the area's attractions, lodgings, maps, and other items relevant to tourism. These are often operated at the airport or other port of entry, by the local government or chamber of commerce. Some are called ''information centers''.

==Signage== {{infobox symbol |mark= {{not a typo|ℹ}} |name=Information source |unicode={{unichar|2139|Information source}} }} {{gallery |height=100 |File:UK traffic sign 2205.svg|Tourist information point (UK) |File:Zeichen 365-61 - Informationsstelle, StVO 2013.svg|Information (Germany) |File:Visitor Information Centre.PNG|Symbol used in Australia by Accredited Visitor Information Centres<ref>{{cite web |title=Accredited Visitor Information Centres |url=https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/tourism/business-development-resources/accredited-visitor-information-centres |website=Destination NSW}}</ref> }} The Unicode code block Letterlike Symbols allocates a code point (U+2139) for a symbol that may used to identify an information source. The default form is a lower case, roman type, serif, extra bold, letter '''<big>{{serif|{{char|i}}}}</big>''', but the script typeface form '''<big><math>i</math></big>''' is common.

==Europe== ===United Kingdom=== In the United Kingdom, there is a nationwide network of Tourist Information Centres run by the British Tourist Authority (BTA), represented online by the VisitBritain website and public relations organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitbritain.com/|title=What Do YOU Travel For?|date=21 June 2016}}</ref> Other TICs are run by local authorities or through private organizations such as local shops in association with BTA.

In England, VisitEngland promotes domestic tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enjoyengland.com/tourist-information/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315144720/http://www.enjoyengland.com/tourist-information/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2010|title=Tourist Information Centres : Enjoy England|date=15 March 2010}}</ref>

In Wales, the Welsh Government supports TICs through Visit Wales.

In Scotland, the Scottish Government supports VisitScotland, the official tourist organization of Scotland, which also operates Tourist Information Centres across Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitscotland.com/|title=VisitScotland - Scotland's National Tourist Organisation}}</ref>

===Poland=== In Poland there are special offices and tables giving free information about tourist attractions. Offices are situated in interesting places in popular tourists' destinations and tables usually stay near monuments and important culture

==North America== {{Main|Welcome centers in the United States}} In North America, a '''welcome center''' is a rest area with a visitor center, located after the entrance from one state or province to another state or province or in some cases another country, usually along an Interstate Highway or other freeway. These information centers are operated by the state they are located in. The first example opened on 4 May 1935, next to US 12 in New Buffalo, Michigan, near the Indiana state line.<ref name=vellequette>{{cite news |last= Vellequette |first= Larry P. |date= 4 October 2005 |title= $2.6M Center To Be Welcome Sight |work= The Blade |location= Toledo, OH |page= B2 |oclc= 12962717 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mHZhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6890,891313&dq=new+buffalo+welcome+center&hl=en |access-date= 30 April 2013}}</ref><ref name=borgstrom>{{cite press release |last= Borgstrom |first= Kirsten |date= 25 May 2010 |title= Nation's First Highway Travel Information Center: Celebrate 75 Years at the New Buffalo Welcome Center, May 27, 2010 |url= http://www.michigan.org/pressreleases/nation-s-first-highway-travel-information-center-br-celebrate-75-years-at-the-new-buffalo-welcome-center-may-27-2010/ |publisher= Michigan Economic Development Corporation |access-date= 30 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130628142447/http://www.michigan.org/pressreleases/nation-s-first-highway-travel-information-center-br-celebrate-75-years-at-the-new-buffalo-welcome-center-may-27-2010/ |archive-date= 28 June 2013 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

Many United States cities, such as Houston, Texas<ref>{{cite web |url=http://visithoustontexas.org |website=visithoustontexas.org |access-date=1 November 2016|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140113123537/http://visithoustontexas.org/ |archivedate=13 January 2014|title= Fun Things To Do In Houston Texas {{!}} Learn Where To Go}}</ref> and Boca Raton, Florida,{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} as well as counties and other areas smaller than states, also operate welcome centers, though usually with less facilities than state centers have.

In Ontario, there are nine Ontario Travel Information Centres located along 400-series highways.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/contact-us|title=Ontario Travel Information Centres|website=Destination Ontario| access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>

==South America== ===Peru=== {{Main|Iperú}} [[File:Oficina de iperú en el aeropuerto de Iquitos (Amazonia peruana).jpg|thumb|Iperú, the national Peruvian tourist information and assistance center. This office is located inside the Arrival Lounge of the Crnl. FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport, in Iquitos, Peruvian Amazonia.]] Peru features Iperú, Tourist Information and Assistance, a free service that provides tourist information for domestic and foreign travelers, the information covers destinations, attractions, recommended routes and licensed tourism companies in Peru. It also provides assistance on various procedures or where tourists have problems of various kinds. Iperú receives complaints and suggestions for destinations and tourism companies operating in Peru (lodging, travel agencies, airlines, buses, etc.).<ref name="Peru official website">{{cite web|url=http://www.peru.travel/|title=PROMPERU - Peru, the richest country in the world|website=www.peru.travel}}</ref>

Iperú, Tourist Information and Assistance has a nationwide network represented online by the Peru.travel website, the 24/7 line (51 1) 5748000, and 31 local offices in 13 regions in all over Peru: Lima-Callao, Amazonas, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Ancash, Arequipa, Tacna, Puno, Ayacucho, Cusco, Tumbes and Iquitos.<ref name="Peru official website"/>

The official tourist organization or national tourist board of Peru is PromPerú, a national organization that promotes both tourism and international commerce of this country worldwide.

==Oceania== In Australia, most visitor centers are local or state government-run, or in some cases as an association of tourism operators on behalf of the government, usually managed by a board or executive. Those that comply with a national accreditation programme use the italic '''<big><math>i</math></big>''' as pictured. These visitor information centers (often abbreviated as VICs) provide information on the local area, and usually perform services such as accommodation and tour bookings, flight/bus/train/hire car options, and act as the first point of contact a visitor has with the town or region.

{{clr}} ==Gallery== {{gallery |title=Visitor centres around the world |width=180 | height=180 |File:Hailuoto tourist info 20090716.jpg|A tourist info office of the Hailuoto Island in North Ostrobothnia, Finland |File:Szczecin, Centrum Informacji Kulturalnej i Turystycznej.JPG|Cultural and Tourist Information Center in Ducal Castle, Szczecin, Poland |File:Texas Travel Information Center -Laredo.jpg|Texas Travel Information Center located near Laredo, Texas along I-35, 18 miles from the Mexico – United States border. |File:RioBotanicalGarden-VisitorCentre1.jpg|Visitor center of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Brazil. }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Visitor centres}} * [https://www.visiteurope.com/ VisitEurope.com EU Visitors Center]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Visitor Center}} Category:Visitor centers Category:Tourism industry