Armidale rings in new mobile technology

Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay today announced the launch of a pilot program that uses cutting edge technology to deliver up to date tourism information to visitors on mobile phones.

In an Australia-first the New England North West Regional Tourism Organisation and Telstra are working together to promote tourism attractions using mobile phone technology.

Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said the new technology could change the way visitors receive tourism information.

“Visitors will be able to download the latest tourism information when it is convenient for them,” Ms McKay said.

Visitors with a camera mobile phone equipped with internet access and reader software can scan a bar code on attractions, maps and brochures and have information about it downloaded onto their phone.

“Information is delivered in several formats including streaming video, audio or pictures,” said Ms McKay.

“Bar codes can be printed anywhere; on maps, posters, magazines, sign posts and interactive billboards.”

21 million Australians have a mobile phone and there are 3 billion mobile handsets worldwide.

Ms McKay said the technology could give the tourism industry the ability to reach more visitors with information they want.

On Thursday the NSW Tourism Board was given a demonstration of the technology on a tour of the Armidale Court House, Post Office, Westpac Bank and the Imperial Hotel which all have the bar codes displayed.

“Tourism operators could also provide up-to-date or seasonal offers to take advantage of local events or drive visitor numbers during off-peak periods without the expense of printing new brochures,” Ms McKay said.

“And the information is available 24 hours a day through codes printed on Visitor Information Centres and on the local touring maps.”

North West Regional Tourism Organisation Executive Officer, Stuart Allardice said the project is taking the region to a new dimension in the delivery of information to the travelling public.

“This will set the New England North West Regional Tourism Organisation as a forerunner in the delivery of information,” he said.

Telstra Countrywide Executive Gordon Burke said Telstra was excited to collaborate with Tourism NSW to create an innovative way for tourism information to be delivered.

“Telstra’s Next G mobile telephone technology utilising mobile codes gives consumers the latest information at their fingertips, enhancing their experience of the tourism sites and attractions and tours,” he said.

A Report by the Mole