County tourism breaks £1.5bn barrier for first time

New figures have shown that the value of Lincolnshire’s tourism industry has increased by a further 7 percent, reaching £1.58bn in 2018.

The latest STEAM figures show that in 2018 the county attracted around 21m visitors – a 2.5 percent rise on the previous year.

As a result, the county’s visitor economy is now worth 62 percent more than it was ten years ago.

Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economy and Place, said: “Tourism is a key industry for the county economy, employing more than 20,000 people.

“We’re working hard to attract even more visitors, and over the last couple of years we’ve dramatically improved what we have to offer.

“And although the summer remains our busiest time of year, we’re now seeing an increasing number of visitors in October and March.

“That suggests our efforts to extend the traditional tourist season, with new attractions like the North Sea Observatory, are paying off.

“Looking ahead, the increasing number of direct trains between Lincoln and London will make it easier for overseas visitors to discover all our county has to offer.

“And with the extensive improvements at Lincoln Cathedral and the Mayflower 400 celebrations on the horizon, I’m confident our tourism economy will continue to thrive in the years to come.”