WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5,1987, PAGE 19 CALLA PRO)F:ESSIONA w-_____________________ Barry Thompson & Sons *Re om 91Bathrooms .Tiling *Garages *Dlshwasher Oe cks Installations 668-8455 *PAINTING* DECORA TING* * REC ROOMS * 20 years experience, satisfac- tion guaranteed, free estimates. 668-0925 w- BRIAN DEEGAN l'1 BUYUNG AN ANNUITY? If you are and you wish to secure a M~2ML. annulty f rom your RRSP, cati: HERB TRAN OSHAWA 725-6564 WH ITBY 668-5968 TOP50QUOTES AVAILABLE D.W. KIRNER & ASSOCIATES Financial A<visors in Retirement Planning Brokers of RRSPI S GIC'S, RJF'S ANNUITIES & INVESTMENT FUNDS Hat. (rom 0,cr 100 linancial îa.ltu Public Seminos & privalt consultation ai Nu Chare nov (>ligiion 571-0771 74 Siincoe St. S., Suite 303, Box 13-3 Oshawa. Ont. LI H 7L1 s -n M cie ear AT THE TOURISM INFO CENTRE Accommodation among most common inquiries By JANET BROWNE Staff at the Whitby tourist infor- mation centre keep a very close eye on who pays a visit to,the building on Brock St., and now have eviden-, ce of the growing success of the tourism industry in the Town. Tourism clerk, Judy Gibbens reports that the*office is welcoming an average of about 200 travellers a day, while in June 1983, that num- ber averaged only about 75. "Lt is also rather impressive that over one third of the inquiries that corne through this office are about places within Whitby," says Gib- bens, who is responsible for the task of keeping records of office visitors. "Surprisingly enough, most of the inquiries are not for Cullen Gardens. " Gibbens says that although Cullen Gardens is the most popular tourist attraction, Family Kar- tways runs a close second, followed by Pleasure Valley and Dagmar Ski Resort. "And we definitely have room for other attractions and beefing up. " Other Whitby inquiries are usually for specific businesses, or street naines and locations. The office carnies a huge number of information pamphlets for at- tractions ail over Ontario, but their first priority is Whitby since the of- fice is operated by the Town. Although an estimated 61 per cent of visitors are Canadian, over a quarter of the total number are Americans, while Europeans, South and- Central Americans, Africans and even Australians have crossed over the threshold. "We have had nearly every coun- try represented at one time or another," says Gibbens. Gibbens adds that she receives "lots of inquiries for accon:- modation," but only four places of accommodation are available in Whitby for tourists. Namne change suggfested During the busier summer mon- ths, Gibbens says the office "gets pretty hairy," and the staff neyer has more than 10 minutes without an inquiry. In order flot to discourage Whitby residents from using the centre, Jeanette Babington, Marketing and Economic Development Officer, says she would rather see the name changed to Traveller Information Center. "We get a lot of Whitby residents wanting to take day trips within Whitby," says Gibbens. "It's nice to see people staying in the area, and spending money within the Town. " According to Babington, tourism is "the number one industry in On- tario, and it is important that people recognize the benefits of tourist attractions and events, and what they contribute ta the economy." She adds that tourists "stop, eat, sleep and shop" while visiting Whitby, thus creating a huge spin- off into the Town's economy. The Whitby tourist information center was originally a trailer on the same corner in 1981, but the need for more room initiated the construction of the permanent building five years ago. One of the reasons for the abun- dance of clients at the center is the attractiveness of the building itself . "We're the envy of every other travel center,' says Gibbens, ad- ding that coffee and orange drink are available to whoever enters the building. "The nice part is that it was a community effort," she says of the construction of the building. Sklar-Peppler donated the fur- niture, and other Whitby businesses helped out with other needs. "It gives us a chance to give really personal service. " TOP'QUALITY RAILROAD TUES Ideal for Iandscaplng n retalning walls. 1726 Slmcoe St. N. Oshawa 436-9145 MENKYO KEMPO KARATE '~Members of the International Kempo Association . ~'Join 1 Yor And Reciv... FREE6MONTHS CANADIAN KEMPO KARATE FREE UNIFORM -FREE CRESTS *FEDERATION * Krat * ungFu CANADIAN CHANPIONSHIP KARATETOURNAME eSel f Defence SAT. AUG. 15187, AJAX COMMUNITY CENTRE PHONE 666-2878 * Starte: 12 NOON. EVENING SH-OW 7 P.M. DENTURE TH ERAPY CLINIC HARWOOD AVE. S. AJAX, ONTARIO 683-6074 I A PET STOP is amnong the welcome facilities at Whitby's tourist information centre. ENT z I and 1 efffl , . . . . . . ý . 1 . <r . -ý ý . , t ý. ýj . 'l 'l ý% ýj -J 'le , , , -, ý% , , * -t * - 4 ý - - - -