October 8, 2019 9.17 am This story is over 53 months old

Lincolnshire tourism breaks £1.5bn barrier

Leaders say the area will continue to thrive as a visitor destination
New attractions like the North Sea Observatory are getting the credit. Photo: Andrew Tryner/Lincolnshire County Council.

For the first time, Lincolnshire’s tourism industry has broken the £1.5 billion mark.

New figures have indicated that the value of the county’s visitor economy increased by a further 7%, reaching £1.58 billion in 2018.

The latest STEAM figures show that, in 2018, the county attracted around 21 million visitors – a 2.5% rise on the previous year.

As a result, the county’s visitor economy is now worth 62% more than it was ten years ago.

Councillor Colin Davie, executive member for economy at Lincolnshire County Council. Picture: Daniel Jaines.

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economy and Place, said: “Tourism is a key industry for the county economy, employing more than 20,000 people.

“We’re working hard to attract even more visitors, and over the last couple of years we’ve dramatically improved what we have to offer.

“And although the summer remains our busiest time of year, we’re now seeing an increasing number of visitors in October and March.

“That suggests our efforts to extend the traditional tourist season, with new attractions like the North Sea Observatory, are paying off.

“Looking ahead, the increasing number of direct trains between Lincoln and London will make it easier for overseas visitors to discover all our county has to offer.

“And with the extensive improvements at Lincoln Cathedral and the Mayflower 400 celebrations on the horizon, I’m confident our tourism economy will continue to thrive in the years to come.”