Exmoor Guinea launched

Quantitative Easing for Exmoor, Exmoor Guinea designed by Pete Rae

Exmoor is fighting back to beat the recession with its own form of quantitative easing by introducing a free currency to help visitors get added value and make massive savings during their stay on Exmoor over the next three months.
 
Being launched in the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth, the new Exmoor Guinea will be available to download from today (Wednesday 1 August 2012) at www.visit-exmoor.co.uk or can be collected from National Park Centres in Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth and visitor centres around the National Park.
 
Visitors to the area will be able to recognise participating businesses from Exmoor Guinea window posters and redeem their Guineas in a variety of ways depending on the offers available at the tourism businesses. This can be anything from a free bottle of wine when ordering a two course meal for two at selected restaurants, 20% off an hour’s ride across the moors (worth £5 per rider), a Guinea off an award-winning Devon cream tea for two (worth £1.05) to 10% - 15% off the price of local accommodation.

It has been calculated that by using the Exmoor Guineas on their stay, visitors could save anything up to £50 or more on a weekend break*. Businesses wishing to take part in the scheme can register their offers via the Visit Exmoor website.
 
Ian Rigby, Chairman of the Lyn Economic & Tourism Alliance and Member of the Exmoor National Park Authority, says “We realise that times are tough for many of our visitors so the Exmoor Guinea will provide an extra welcome treat and some real savings during their visit to the area.
 
“Exmoor is a fantastic place to visit at any time of year and we hope that this new initiative will encourage people to come and enjoy our amazing countryside and local produce.”

Notes:
1. The first guinea was produced on 6 February 1663, and was made legal currency by a Proclamation of 27 March 1663. The denomination was originally worth one pound, or twenty shillings. In the 1816 the guinea was replaced as the major unit of currency by the pound and in coinage with a sovereign. Even after the coin ceased to circulate, the name guinea was long used to indicate the amount of 21 shillings (£1.05 in decimal currency).

Published: 1 August 2012