The iconic cartoon character Captain Pugwash has been unveiled as the new face of tourist information in Rye. In a technological first in the UK, John Ryan's creation uses AI to give visitors to the town all they need to know on their mobiles.
The new service was launched on Friday 21 November at the revamped tourist signs across from Rye railway station. The newly designed boards give visitors a map of the town and information about places to visit, along with a QR code which opens up a chat on WhatsApp with Captain Pugwash.
In the chat, users can ask any questions about their visit to Rye, for example restaurant recommendations or advice on any of the town's many events. To see how it works, scan the QR code at the bottom of the article.
Signs to promote the new service have also been placed in Rye's car parks, and local businesses are being encouraged to display the QR code.
Rye has been without a tourist information centre since April 2023 when a lack of funds forced its closure. The new service is being paid for by Levelling Up capital funding secured by Rye Chamber of Commerce and facilitated through Rother District Council.
Jane Brook, Rye Chamber Chair, said she was thrilled to be given permission by John Ryan's estate to use the cartoon pirate. "We wanted our tour guide to be a recognisable character and who better than Pugwash. Working with John Ryan's daughter, Isabel, to explore the original artwork has been a great privilege and we’re extremely grateful for her enthusiasm for the project.”
Isabel Ryan said she was impressed by the quality of the artwork, both on the boards and online. "They are absolutely beautiful and show my dad's work to perfection. As well as being very useful for tourists, I hope it will bring back many happy memories of Captain Pugwash from the books and the TV series."
Captain Pugwash was written and illustrated by Ryer John Ryan from the 1950s. The pirate's stories aboard his ship The Black Pig were also animated for TV from the 1960s.
Simon Parsons from Rye Heritage Centre was the first to use the new service, asking Captain Pugwash when the centre was open. "I knew it was coming but I had no idea it would be so effective. It's very good to look at and will definitely draw in people's attention."
The innovative new tourist information service uses AI and does not need staff or premises. The team behind the service says the information will always remain current.
"Rye follows New York and Toronto, as well as Greece, Germany and New Zealand in using the technology," said Ross Borden, CEO of Matador Network. "Not only is Rye the first UK destination we’ve worked with to develop a custom AI tool on the GuideGeek platform, but Rye Chamber is also the first volunteer-run organisation we’ve worked with."
You can also chat with Captain Pugwash on the newly launched www.visitrye.co.uk website.
