A Westcountry tourist destination has launched a state-of-the-art new website to draw in more visitors over 2012.

The English Riviera Tourism Company, which markets Torbay, hopes to maximise the number of extra UK visitors for the Olympics and the Queen’s diamond jubilee. It has invested in www.englishriviera.co.uk to highlight the UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark as a must-visit destination.

ERTC chief executive Carolyn Custerson said: “We are confident this will now put us in a stronger position to better promote the English Riviera and deliver our powerful new tourism strategy successfully.”

The resort’s iconic palm tree logo has been redesigned in the colours of the British flag, and the company has launched an iPhone app and Facebook page. A host of ranger-led Geopark Discovery Packages such as canoeing and coasteering will be made available to visitors and a food and drink trail is being launched at Easter.

The ERTC has also launched a Welcome English Riviera training course for the hospitality industry and hopes that at least 1,000 workers will be fully trained in the “art of the welcome” by the February.