Broads Reports A Good Year

The Broads Authority reports improved tourism. 'Visitors to the Broads increased by 4.2% last year to 7.4 million with a 2% increase in spending and jobs in the tourism sector.' This must be seen as a real credit to the area and those that work to preserve and promote its interests. Tourist chiefs and interested parties point out that this 'bucks a trend' against a backdrop of general economic woe and the knock-on effects will be of tremendous value. These are 2011 figures and are released by STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor). Widely recognised as the leading model for calculating the volume and value of tourism. 'The figures show that visitors spent £469 million compared to £437 million in 2010. Jobs dependent on tourism rose from 6,236 to 6,367. There were 7.1 million visitors in 2010.' In tough economic times this may be a reflection of people turning their holiday plans to more 'local' destinations and staying at home rather than abroad.