South West Coast Path points the regional economy in in the right direction

Figures released yesterday by the South West Coast Path team show that walkers using England’s longest National Trail spent around £436m during 2012, an increase of almost 15% in the past three years. The majority of this spend (76%) was attributable to staying visitors (£333.2m) and 24% (£102.9m) day visitors. This expenditure supports 9,771 full-time equivalent jobs.

In addition, the research indicates that the total number of South West Coast Path users for 2012 has risen by 7% from 8.01 million users during 2011 to 8.6 million in 2012, driven by increases in day visits from home and day visits from holiday makers staying in non-coastal locations.

Says Mark Owen, the National Trail Officer for the South West Coast Path Team: “These figures are great news. It shows that it’s not only locals who know that you have to leave the car behind and explore on foot if you want to discover the most memorable views of our beautiful coastline. While walking on the Coast Path is free, the money walkers spend in nearby pubs, cafes, accommodation and with other local businesses makes public investment on the South West Coast Path National Trail a cost-effective way to help grow the region’s economy.”

News of this increase in economic value comes just as the ‘Unlocking our Coastal Heritage’ project, which was launched in 2010, reaches completion. Largely funded with £2.1 million of European grant aid through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) it has raised the profile of the South West Coast Path as a ‘cultural corridor’ with a wealth of historic, artistic and cultural heritage – as well as its more recognised environmental quality.

As the longest of 15 National Trails in England and Wales with a length of 630 miles, the South West Coast Path follows the coastline of England’s South West peninsular and is recognised as one of the region’s principal tourism attractions and leisure facilities.  Starting at Minehead in Somerset, it follows the coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset until it reaches its end at Poole Harbour.

For more information about the Unlocking our Coastal Heritage project and the four strands to conserve, enhance and interpret the Coast Path, visit www.southwestcoastpath.com/RDPE