£1.2 billion spent on Staffordshire tourism in 12 months
A whopping £1.2 billion was spent on tourism in Staffordshire in 12 months as the county enjoyed its busiest year.
Staffordshire County Council has revealed more than 24 million people enjoyed day or overnight trips in 2015 with attractions such as Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase once again proving popular.
The authority stated the record visitor numbers generated £1.2bn spent on accommodation, entertainment, travel, shopping as well as food and drink,
On top of that tourism in Staffordshire now supports nearly 30,000 jobs generating an additional £500 million of associated spend in the sector. County councillor Mark Winnington, responsible for economy, said: "Staffordshire is a wonderful county to visit with a rich tapestry of visitor attractions. We have something for everyone, from world-class theme parks to acres of magnificent countryside, and everything in between.
"Tourism is really booming here in the county and plays an important role in our overall economy. Our local tourism businesses continue to do a great job, attracting more and more visitors, bringing in over £100m a month for the local economy and sustaining tens of thousands of jobs."
Cannock Chase has been at the heart of the success. Last year saw the introduction of an extra concert put on during the Sunday for the growingly popular Forest Gigs event. A council spokesman added: "Staffordshire is home to the Alton Towers Resort, one of the country's leading theme parks, alongside Drayton Manor Park in Tamworth.
"Other national attractions include the FA National Football Centre at St George's Park, the National Brewery Centre in Burton, the Peak District National Park and the National Forest.
"Shugborough Hall, near Stafford, is the country's only working historic estate, while the county's extensive canal network is amongst the largest in the country.
"Cannock Chase has over 1,000 hectors of majestic countryside and is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
