We can all agree that Northumberland is a fantastic place to live and visit, and thankfully this is something that others are realising too. Visit Northumberland recently shared the area's tourism statistics for 2015, and there is some very positive news.
Last year we welcomed a total of 9.5 million visitors to Northumberland, an increase of 3% on 2014. These visitors spent 14.8m days with us, which is also up a healthy 4% from last year. What's more:
- 1.7m of our visitors stayed overnight, an increase of 2.8%
- Between them visitors spent a total of £816m, up by 5% on the previous year.
- 11,591 direct jobs were supported by tourism, also up by 4%.
What this all proves is that Northumberland is a county on the up, and one which welcomes visitors both old and new. Tourism is a vital part of the local economy, but should also be seen as a point of pride. Having so many people visit the area is heartening, and it merely reinforces what we already know: that Northumberland is the best county in the country!
For inspiration on where to take any friends or family who are up on a visit, then give the Visit Northumberland website a look - http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/ or send them this link, which really does showcase the stunning scenery on our doorstep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCg0L-DJfAs.