Brits head for Eastbourne this summer

Eastbourne is revelling in an influx of holidaymakers as hotel bookings in the town rise by 66% with Brits choosing to make the most of holidaying at home. According to lastminute.com, Eastbourne, the sunniest place in Great Britain, has seen a surge in accommodation bookings as traditional British seaside resorts become increasingly popular this summer.

With the cost of fuel rising and fears of a recession, higher numbers of Brits are saying goodbye to summer holidays abroad and opting for a chilled out break on the Sussex shore.

Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said “Holidaying in the UK is becoming increasingly popular and Eastbourne is definitely seeing more visitors this summer. The fact that bookings are up by 66% is brilliant news for the town and with such a fantastic location on the south coast, a beautiful Victorian promenade, first class Blue Flag beach, natural beauty of the South Downs, and vibrant and varied nightlife, Eastbourne definitely makes an ideal summer getaway.”

Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre is also feeling the benefits of the rise in visitor numbers, with in excess of 1,200 enquiries per day all enquiring about what to see and do in Eastbourne.

Offering Day Save train tickets for Southern Rail, with unlimited off peak rail travel at just £10 per person per day, or £20 when booking for a group of four, plus National Express and Flagship coach travel, Theatre bookings, and Airbourne tickets, the Tourist Information Centre is set for a very busy summer in 2008.

The resort’s accommodation portfolio is looking better than ever too, with plenty of recent investment offering even more choice for visitors looking for a short break this summer.

From the opening of the Big Sleep Hotel offering designer décor on a budget, to the resort’s first art hotel, the da Vinci; from Eastbourne’s boutique Waterside Hotel, through to the extensive refurbishment of the Cavendish. With one in three breaks in the UK being taken at the seaside, the news is a great boost to Eastbourne and the local economy.

Eastbourne’s official tourism website, VisitEastbourne.com offers online booking for more than 100 local hotels, guesthouses and self-catering accommodation.

With the town’s profile rising, the town expects to see traffic to the site hit an all time high over the next couple of months with the seaside becoming the number one holiday destination.

For more information or to book a break to Eastbourne, log on to Visiteastbourne.com.