Two south coast resorts are joining the eurozone to cash in on the boom of more British and foreign visitors this summer.
Tourism bosses believe that the stay-at-home Brits who normally travel abroad will have spare euros tucked away from previous holidays that they won't be using this year.
And rather than it going to waste, they can spend it in hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions in Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset.
The move will also benefit foreign visitors who will be attracted to Britain due to the poor state of the pound against the euro.
The two resorts will become only the second location in Britain to accept the euro on a par with the pound.
Earlier this year Dunster in Somerset became the first community in the country to generally take the euro.
A number of hotels and restaurants in the neighbouring Dorset resorts have signed up to the scheme to give guests the opportunity of part-paying in euros.
Tourism chiefs believe that if 500,000 Brits change their holiday habits this year and each has just one 20 euro note then that is 10 million pounds lying idle.
Mark Cribb's Urban Beach restaurant in Bournemouth is now accepting the euro.
He said: "With so many UK holidaymakers likely to shun eurozone countries this summer, there will be an awful lot of unwanted euros sitting around in people's pockets and sock drawers.
"If accepting continental currency adds to our unbeatable holiday value we are all for it."
Cherrie Bythell, who runs the Mount Lodge guest house in Bournemouth, said: "We are hoping that with it being better value for the euro against the pound then more people will come here from abroad.
"The fact they will not need to change their currency is an added bonus."
Graham Richardson, of Poole council's tourism department, said: "It is a small start and we are confident we can sign up lots more hotels and restaurants."
Antony Brunt, who runs the Market Hotel in Dunster, said the move has proved a hit there.
He said: "When we have overseas guests they are certainly pleased that we are doing this."
source: telegraph.co.uk
Tourism bosses believe that the stay-at-home Brits who normally travel abroad will have spare euros tucked away from previous holidays that they won't be using this year.
And rather than it going to waste, they can spend it in hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions in Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset.
The move will also benefit foreign visitors who will be attracted to Britain due to the poor state of the pound against the euro.
The two resorts will become only the second location in Britain to accept the euro on a par with the pound.
Earlier this year Dunster in Somerset became the first community in the country to generally take the euro.
A number of hotels and restaurants in the neighbouring Dorset resorts have signed up to the scheme to give guests the opportunity of part-paying in euros.
Tourism chiefs believe that if 500,000 Brits change their holiday habits this year and each has just one 20 euro note then that is 10 million pounds lying idle.
Mark Cribb's Urban Beach restaurant in Bournemouth is now accepting the euro.
He said: "With so many UK holidaymakers likely to shun eurozone countries this summer, there will be an awful lot of unwanted euros sitting around in people's pockets and sock drawers.
"If accepting continental currency adds to our unbeatable holiday value we are all for it."
Cherrie Bythell, who runs the Mount Lodge guest house in Bournemouth, said: "We are hoping that with it being better value for the euro against the pound then more people will come here from abroad.
"The fact they will not need to change their currency is an added bonus."
Graham Richardson, of Poole council's tourism department, said: "It is a small start and we are confident we can sign up lots more hotels and restaurants."
Antony Brunt, who runs the Market Hotel in Dunster, said the move has proved a hit there.
He said: "When we have overseas guests they are certainly pleased that we are doing this."
source: telegraph.co.uk
