A PICTURE postcard campaign aimed at attracting visitors back to Dartmoor in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis is already paying off.
Dartmoor Tourist Association, with the support of West Devon Borough Council, has sent out 20,000 postcards to its 200 members — who have sent on the cards to previous guests.
Nadine Trout, borough tourism officer, said the key aim of the campaign, which started this month, is to encourage bookings during the autumn and winter.
She said: 'Although it is a simple idea, businesses in the area have already reported the effectiveness of the campaign.
'Higher Cadham Farm at Jacobstowe received half-a-dozen accommodation bookings just two days after their cards were sent off, and Fourwinds of Okehampton were delighted to receive in the region of 20 telephone calls as a direct result of the campaign.'
The picture postcards show walkers on a Dartmoor tor at sunset, showing the moor is open for business.
She said many other businesses feel the cards work well purely from a public relations point of view, as they show how much guests mean to them.
And as a bonus, the cards and postage have not cost businesses anything, as they were provided free of charge through funding secured by South West Tourism from South West England Regional Development Agency and the European Union.