Tourism is the second biggest employer in this country and our third
biggest export industry. It can sometimes be easy to forget just how
important it is to our economy to encourage more visitors. David
Cameron has used a recent speech to highlight the work of the British
tourist industry, before starting his own family holiday in Cornwall
this week. Sarah, the children and I have also started our own family
holiday this week, but prefer instead to enjoy the local attractions
here in Kent.
I have certainly noticed an increasing number of foreign visitors this
summer, and it is not unusual to hear French, German or Dutch being
spoken on the streets. This may have something to do with the
favourable exchange rate between the pound and the euro, but also the
hard work by people locally to attract visitors.
Visit Kent has recently launched a new campaign to promote the county
that is based on a contemporary look at the ‘garden of England.’ So as
well as featuring some of Kent’s traditional attractions, like
historic castles and picturesque villages it showcases other aspects
of life here like water sports, food destinations and the arts. We
all know that often it is the people that make the place, and Visit
Kent have included features on personalities, including the Folkestone
artist Shane Record, for example, and recommendations from local
people as part of their campaign. You can take part in this by
visiting their website www.visitkent.co.uk and make your own
suggestions of where people should come to in Kent.
Visit Kent is also a good model for how local tourism promotion can
work, as it is a partnership between local government funding and
support from the private sector. I have recently written to John
Penrose the new Tourism Minister encouraging him to meet with Visit
Kent to see how it works. We are also fortunate in Folkestone, Hythe
and Romney Marsh to have the industry and creativity of Discover
Folkestone and Chris Kirkham. On their website,
www.discoverfolkestone.co.ukas well as in this newspaper you can keep
up to date with local events.
In addition to the official work to promote the area and attract
visitors, we are fortunate to have so many volunteers organising
events. These have included the recent Hythe Festival, New Romney
Country Fayre, Lydd Club Day, and the Charivari carnival in
Folkestone. Later this month we will also have the Day of Syn in
Dymchurch, the Sandgate Festival of the sea and the Aldington Soap Box
Derby, to name but a few.
Our countryside is also an important attraction, and last week I met
with members of the Kent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, who are
responsible for much of the work to protect and enhance the North
Downs.
Whatever your plans are for the rest of the summer, I hope you get the
chance to enjoy some of Kent’s attractions, and of course that the
weather picks up a little bit.