Tourism website goes a long way to fill vacuum

It’s estimated that the site - run by Alastair Hazell - received a quarter of a million hits in 2010.

Not everybody who has viewed Discover Bexhill on the internet is going to visit the town, but it follows that a healthy percentage would be interested enough to plan a trip to see what we’ve got to offer - or at least make enquiries by telephone.

According to Mr Hazell, local hotels and guest houses have had a brilliant year.

The economic situation is of course a huge factor, with many planning holidays in the UK rather than heading abroad, especially with Pound Sterling performing weakly against other currencies such as the Euro.

But it just goes to show how tourist information, if provided in a clear and concise manner, can generate interest in Bexhill both nationally and internationally.

Rother District Council has recently announced plans to revamp its existing tourism facilities - of which Bexhill currently has none.

It plans to have one ‘hub’ centre and two satellite outposts, taking in Bexhill, Rye and Battle.

As yet we don’t know who’s going to get the hub - hopefully it will be Bexhill as the town is so badly neglected in this sphere at the moment.

However Discover Bexhill has played a huge part in filling this vacuum - and Rother District Council would do well to learn from this independent, productive and charitable venture.