The numbers show 4.7 million trips were made to the Royal Town in a 12 month period, and the total value to the local economy of tourism has risen to £278 million a year.
Individuals visiting the town are each spending £60 a day in Tunbridge Wells, helping boost jobs supported by tourism, which have increased with 5,235 workers now dependent on visitors to the town for their living.
The tourist industry accounts for 8 per cent of total employment in the borough, an increase of 6.6 per cent on the previous year.
Based on independent research commissioned by Visit Kent, the latest figures cover the year 2017 and show a ‘deep dive’ into data collected about visits to Tunbridge Wells, which were up by 5.7 per cent on the previous year, an increase of over a quarter of a million.
The figures were derived using the Cambridge Economic Impact Model, an industry respected tool for measuring the economic impact of tourism in a given area.
Councillor Jane March for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, and the Culture, Leisure & Tourism portfolio holder, said:
“The results of the research make very positive reading for Tunbridge Wells. Tourism is very important to our local economy and I hope that we will see this upward trend continue.
“The Council works hard to support the local tourism businesses through the marketing and promotion it carries out. We work with partners across West Kent to ensure that visitors know what a great and welcoming destination this is.”
