VISITORS to The Malverns’ tourism website have rocketed because of the number of people opting for a staycation this year.
Compared to the same period in 2019 there has been a 44 per cent increase on those heading to visitthemalverns.org and 66 per cent in August alone.
Almost 80 per cent of website traffic came from people visiting the website for the first time.
The largest number of visitors live in London, followed by Birmingham and Bristol.
The local tourism industry has been severely impacted by the January floods and the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting people’s livelihoods and jobs.
It is hoped the increase in spending by visitors will help support the district’s shops, restaurants, accommodation providers, attractions and more.
The Malverns is increasingly being seen as an attractive place to visit and stay, particularly with the large number of walking and cycling opportunities available across the district.
A MalvernsWalks App is available to download so people can embark on self-guided walks.
And research shows, as well as visitors from across the country, local people are becoming more aware of what is available on their doorsteps and are choosing to be ‘tourists at home’.
Tourism is hugely important to The Malverns attracting 3.5million day trips and 211,000 overnight stays a year, equating to more than £137million for the local economy, supporting 2,780 jobs.
Coun Sarah Rouse, Malvern Hills District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The Malverns is a great place to get outdoors and spend time with loved ones.
“There are also great attractions to visit and some wonderfully unique restaurants and cafes right across the district to discover.
“Avoid the hassle of travelling and quarantine restrictions and come and explore what The Malverns has to offer.
“We’re open for business and ready to welcome you.”
Visit www.visitthemalverns.org for more on what The Malverns has to offer.
