Kentish Express Ashford & District
Tourism rise gives area a jobs boost
Visitors put £278m into the local economy
Council bosses have hailed a boost in tourism after it was revealed that nearly one in 10 jobs in the borough are now geared towards welcoming visitors.
The figure was revealed by council leader Gerry Clarkson at a meeting of the full council.
Cllr Clarkson said the number of jobs supported by tourism rose by 3.5% last year, with 5,482 earning a living in the industry. It amounts to £278 million worth of spending in the local economy.
He said: “Ashford’s thriving visitor economy and the value of tourism in the borough should not be underestimated. Ashford accounted for thousands of jobs and contributed significantly to Kent’s economy.”
The apparent boom is set to continue with the arrival of Chapel Down Vineyard’s new £1.25m Curious Brew visitor centre in Victoria Road, the £70 million town centre cinema complex, expansion plans at the Designer Outlet and the plan for a new model railway centre in Newtown Road.
The developments are coupled with plans for two new town centre hotels which will create new jobs and also give visitors somewhere to stay close to Ashford International railway station.
Meanwhile transport chiefs from Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council and Network Rail have won government funding for a £10 million rail spurs project to make sure new Eurostar trains can continue to stop in the town.
Cllr Clarkson also pointed to a trade boost for the town centre, which he said was bucking the trend for high street decline.
He added: “Footfall rose and shop vacancy rates fell to a historic low of 8.9%, compared to 19% in 2013 and for the first time below the national average of 10.2%. Additionally, Ashford’s visitor economy continued to thrive with a 6% increase in attraction spend.”