Tourists flocking to beauty spots

Beauty spots across the eastern region, protected as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), bring in £844m in tourism, a new report says.

The East of England Tourism report says these sites account for 16% of tourism.

It looked at the economic impact of tourism in the Chilterns, Dedham Vale, Suffolk Coast and Heaths, and Norfolk Coast AONBs and The Broads.

Paula Booth, of the Dedham Vale AONB, said being an AONB "gives visitors the confidence" it is a "quality area".

"The local businesses complement this by providing high quality services," she said.

She added that Dedham, which is on the border of Essex and Suffolk, is a "very pretty and thriving village with an impressive range of shops and services, which undoubtedly continues to thrive because of the combination of a strong local community coupled with a regular flow of visitors".

Sergi Jarques, customer insight manager at East of England Tourism, said: "The protected landscape designation is of enormous value in attracting visitors.

"It signifies to people that this is an area really worth making the effort to see."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project
Heritage Lottery Fund
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