Tourism figures prove district has lots to offer

Latest figures show yet more people are visiting the district, getting out and about, spending more money and helping keep more people in work.

Continuing an upward trend of recent years, the number of visitors to North Kesteven increased by 3.3 per cent in 2015, up to 2.3million.

Most (86.6 per cent) were day visitors, an important group who spend two million days within North Kesteven, (an increase of 3.8 per cent on the year before) and contribute £70m of the total £120m in economic impact from tourism, which is an overall increase of four per cent. Across the year, visitors supported an average of 1,879 full-time equivalent jobs, which was an increase of 1.4 per cent.

The District Council points to this as reason for its continued support of growth in the sector, through the International Bomber Command Memorial Centre at Canwick Hill and Aviation Heritage.

This continued growth was achieved in spite of the cancellation in 2015 of the RAF Waddington International Airshow which was credited with generating around £12m from the influx of more than 100,000 people.

Other attractions within the district include historic houses, country paths and cycleways, Roman relics, Medieval churches, and arts and leisure facilities, as well as nationally known events such as egg-throwing at Swaton and the Heckington Show.

Council Leader Marion Brighton said: “Although we lack a castle, coast, cathedral or other major attraction we have so much to offer all ages and interest groups.”