Chic is as chic does

“The question may be asked: Is Blackpool chic enough for the French? Its Golden Mile, with its fish and chip shops, tattoo parlours and amusement arcades bears little resemblance to the Champs Elysses or Croisette, but work is under way to make Blackpool more stylish.”

A Lancashire seaside resort is using a dash of French glamour and internet social networking sites to boost holidaymaker numbers.

A new YouTube film, complete with sexy French accents, promotes Blackpool as a sophisticated place. The aim of the film is to attract visitors who may have traditionally felt that Blackpool was not for them…

The 90-second-long film, titled Blackpool Je t’aime, is artfully shot and includes images of the town’s tower, trams and fairground.

Helen France, director of tourism for Blackpool Council, said: “Often when we get French visitors – they like to do London, Stratford and Edinburgh and often drop off at a seaside town on the way, and we hope that this will encourage them to come to Blackpool.”

- BBC News

Welcome to the home of Rolf

China’s one million golfers have been urged to try out the sport at ‘the home of golf’.

First Minister Alex Salmond is in China where he has launched the Scottish Prestige Golf Club.

For an annual fee of about £2,650, Chinese players will get membership of a Scottish course, priority tee times and travel agency services. Venues already signed up include Gleneagles, in Perthshire, Carnoustie, in Angus, and Turnberry, in Ayrshire.

Mr Salmond said: “Golf is the growth sport in China, a country which now boasts well over 200 courses with a further 100 now under construction.

“There are now more than a million golf club members in China who are no different to golfers the world over in wanting to experience their favourite sport in its natural home of Scotland, to test their skills at the ‘home of golf’.

- BBC News