Cornwall in Focus News

Cornwall: Top UK Destination 2009

Published 05 Jan 10 17:40

Cornwall has been voted the best holiday destination within the UK at a recent travel-industry awards ceremony. Winners previously in 2006, Cornwall beat last years winner, the Lake District, into second place this year.

Tourism makes up a huge part of the Cornish economy, the major employer and accounting for some 25% of the whole. Statistics show that almost five million people visit us every year, with an annual spend of over £1.6bn in 2007.

Main attractions include the hundreds of Cornish beaches and the spectacular coastline of almost 300 miles. The main visitor attraction was once again the Eden Project, with almost 40% of visitors visiting the biomes during their stay.

The title is surely a recognition of all the effort that has been put in by tourism providers, large and small, over the last year or so.

Steve Kessell, of VisitCornwall, said: "Being awarded the title of Best UK Holiday Destination is a fantastic honour for Cornwall... The fact that it is based on public opinion makes it even more significant as it comes from those people that count, those that vote with their feet."

Tim Jones, chairman of Devon and Cornwall Business Council, added: "The award very much reflects the incredible amount of hard work that Cornwall has done to improve tourist offerings and to reinvent the way that tourism can be profitable in a recession."

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