Visit Kent organised an out & about familiarisation tour of the Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable area for local people working in the tourism hospitality and leisure industry so they could become visitors themselves for a day and join a special coach outing on 18th March 08.

The coach visited the seafront at Herne Bay and then on for a guided walk of Whitstable harbour and town before departing for Canterbury where they received a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site and historic city.

Participants got a chance to learn about Roman Canterbury at the Canterbury Roman Museum in Butchery Lane before departing for Herne Bay.

Fran Warrington, Head of Kent Tourism, said: "Pride in Kent has two key aims - to recognise and raise standards of customer service and to boost general awareness of the many local gems just waiting to be explored.

"When you live in an area it's so easy to become almost blasé about all the beautiful places and attractions that visitors enjoy so much, or just too busy to take note of all the new activities available.

"It's only when someone asks you directions, or wants your opinion about a venue or a day out, that you realise just how much you have been missing."

"These trips are to remind local people of all their ‘old favourites' in the area and to introduce them to new attractions and destinations so that they can talk to other local people and visitors about the many experiences to be discovered in Canterbury"