Tourism nets Worthing a £144 million jackpot

WORTHING'S tourism industry is netting the town a £144million annual jackpot '“ and a livelier seafront is promised to bring more cash-producing attractions for visitors and residents.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd May 2008, 17:55 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:05 BST

The borough council has revealed that the tourism industry generated a total of 143,915,000 for local businesses in 2006.

This sum included:

53,389,597 spent by staying visitors.

53,850,738 spent by tourism day visitors.

38,778,000 business turnover generated through indirect and induced spending.

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In addition, spending by friends and relatives on visitors, and visitors' spending on second homes (i.e., maintenance) generated a further 5,057,000.

The 53million-plus received from both staying and day visitor categories has nailed a previously accepted view that revenue from overnight tourists had fallen well below that of day visitors.

"I am very encouraged by these figures," said Worthing Council tourism officer Janice Fraser.

"I would like to congratulate everyone in the town who has any interest in the visitor economy, and members of the tourism department, for all their hard work."

Visitors' guide

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Mrs Fraser said that in addition to the visitors' guide distributed nationally, and in response to overseas applications, the department's website was proving a big success, with hits increasing by 30 per cent year on year.

"The Birdman in Worthing is very exciting to us and will create a lot of publicity.

"It will build on the worldwide interest that was created at the beginning of the year when all the wood was washed ashore.

"That also generated a lot of out-of-season business for local cafs and similar establishments," she said.

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Kevin Skepper, borough council cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, told the Herald: "We do see tourism as very important for the economy of Worthing.

"Our aim is high-quality facilities for the town, and we would like to see a lot more concessions and facilities along the seafront.

"We are planning to achieve this through our Seafront Strategy."

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