Visitor numbers to Bexhill soar

An Indian Summer gave a welcome late boost to the town's economy according to figures produced by Bexhill Tourism Information Centre (TIC).

Despite a highly successful Bexhill 100 weekend in May throughput in the TIC for the first seven months of the year totalled 26,664, compared to 30,712 in 2001, a 13 percent downturn.

But the best-ever 13,567 visitors were recorded in August and September, nearly 20 percent up on the previous year, says TIC boss George Mathews.

"Similarly, the percentage of overseas visitors rose sharply in August and September, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total, reversing the downward spiral seen in the last two years.

"Most of the overseas tourists were from Northern Europe, with the Germans and Dutch returning in force and the French, Belgians, Swiss and Italians being noticeable, too.

"Postal enquiries at the TIC have dropped by about 10 percent so far this year but brochure and information requests by e-mail have soared by nearly 80 percent, with more than 700 messages recorded by the end of September.

"Paradoxically, telephone enquiries reached an all-time high during the same period, too, the TIC bells have rung over 7,000 times, about five percent up on last year's record-breaking total.

"During the first nine months of 2002, all forms of enquiry at the TIC totalled 48,408, much the same as 2001.

Mr Mathews, co-owner of the TIC with his wife, Verena, said: "No doubt the weather has been a key factor in the late summer success but there is no doubt, too, that, despite limited marketing, the Panoramic and Jazz festivals did much to stimulate interest in Bexhill.

"On a more local level, the Jours de Fetes season at the De La Warr Pavilion also attracted sustained interest.

"If the present buoyancy in our visitor activity is to continue, it is essential for these festivals to become permanent annual events, like the Bexhill 100.

"Only by building up an attractive calendar of major happenings can Bexhill hope to regenerate its tourism industry."