This press release was originally issued by the Mayor of London's press office at the Greater London Authority

The Oyster card is the smartest, quickest and cheapest way around London

The Mayor of London today launched a new deal to enable international visitors to buy and receive Oyster cards before they arrive in the capital giving them quicker, easier journeys and more time to enjoy their trip.

This is thanks to a new partnership between Transport for London and VisitBritain.

The agreement means VisitBritain will be the first organisation to sell Oyster cards through their on-line shops at: www.visitbritaindirect.com. VisitBritain's websites target 36 international markets.

London's Oyster card is an electronic smartcard which holds cash and travel cards enabling passengers to pay for Tube, bus, Docklands Light Railway and tram journeys. Launched in 2003 there are now more than six million in circulation.

Oyster is the cheapest way to buy single fares and over several journeys in one day, Oyster will calculate the cheapest fare for your travel.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "Oyster is already a proven success with Londoners and this new deal will make it easier for millions of overseas visitors to get around London.

"The best way for visitors to travel around the Capital is usually by public transport so this deal will provide simpler, cheaper and quicker journeys."

Kenny Boyle, VisitBritain's director of commercial and marketing services, said: "With more than 12 million visits to our overseas websites every year, Transport for London and other commercial organisations recognise that VisitBritain can help them reach new customers.

Quality experience

"The Oyster card is the smartest, quickest and cheapest way around London and it's fantastic we can now offer even greater value for money to international visitors.

"Together, we can help ensure that our visitors have a quality experience from the moment they start to plan their trip to booking and travelling here.

"By creating platforms, such as our online shops, we can help tourism businesses - large and small - attract more custom."

Initially the cards will go on sale in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Portugal and the USA followed by the rest of VisitBritain's online shops by March 2007.

Online shops

Giles Bailey, Transport for London's Head of Group Marketing Strategy and Integration, said: "We are delighted to have formed this partnership making trips for visitors easy and enjoyable.

"Visitors can keep their Oyster cards to use for future visits to London or they could be given as a gift or lent to friends and family planning to visit London."

By March 2007, VisitBritain's worldwide online shops will sell a wide range of tourism products, including transport, event and attraction tickets, accommodation guides, touring passes, books and maps, ensuring that their websites are the first port of call for visitors as they prepare to travel to the UK.

For 24-hour information on public transport in London, please call: 020 7222 1234.

TfL's Realtime pages display live travel information on London's public transport network: www.tfl.gov.uk/realtime

Journey Planner checks the transport network's status before providing results. The best available route is shown automatically: www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner

Travel alerts via SMS and email can be set up at: www.tfl.gov.uk/alerts