A TRAILBLAZING Internet scheme promoting tourism in Hampshire is to be rolled out across the south-east.

The Visit online marketing service has won £268,000 backing from the south's economic chiefs.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) wants to extend the service - first developed by Hampshire County Council, Winchester and Southampton City Councils and Eastleigh Borough Council - across the region.

Through Visit, hoteliers, bed and breakfast owners and tourist attraction managers can feed details of their services - including up-to-the-minute information about vacancies, prices and special offers - into a central database.

The information is instantly distributed to tourist information centres and on to the Internet, 24-hour kiosks and Web TV and is made available to the public at the touch of a button.

A dozen tourist and visitor information centres are currently using Visit and more are expected to sign up to the service in the coming year.

The new grant will allow Hampshire County Council to work with Southern Tourist Board to extend the scheme.

Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber said: "We are delighted that SEEDA has recognised the importance of Visit by awarding such a generous grant. It will help tourism destinations all over the region to maximise their marketing opportunities.''