Greater Yarmouth Tourism Reveals Growth in Seaside Breaks

Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority (GYTA) launched its 2014 campaign on Tuesday 10 December at Sea Life Great Yarmouth, to an audience of more than 200 local tourism professionals, who heard the welcome news that tourism is worth £550 million to the local economy. Tourism comprises nearly 30% of the borough’s workforce.

Councillor John Burroughs, His Worship the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, unveiled the 2014 brochure (cover jpg attached). The brochure cover focuses on traditional British beach fun confirming the continuing trend for ‘daycation’ and ‘staycation’ and rediscovering Great Yarmouth, which is a top 10 UK seaside resort.

The colourful brochure, which can also be viewed online via www.great-yarmouth.co.uk and downloaded as an app from UK Travel Guides, still has a key role to play in the marketing of the resort. But GYTA is increasingly strengthening its promotional digital armoury. A new Great Yarmouth tourism app was launched in the summer, with integral maps that use GPS technology while visitors are in the resort, to guide them to attractions, restaurants, car parks, toilets and even cash machines.  Mobile and business websites as well as the official tourism website all contribute to the digital mix, with just under two million visits (¾ million unique visits compared to ½ million in 2012) to www.great-yarmouth.co.uk so far this year.

Councillor Michael Jeal, Chair of GYTA said: “Tourism is vital to the economy of the Great Yarmouth area. It is equally vital for the public and private sectors to continue to work together to capitalise on the growth in British seaside holidays. Our flagships events, the Maritime Festival, Beach Volleyball and Summer Fireworks are prime examples of what can be achieved through successful partnerships and we look forward to a strong season for 2014.”

 Madam Mayoress Mrs Jenny Burroughs, the Mayor of Great Yarmouth Councillor John Burroughs and  Councillor Michael Jeal, Chair Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority at Sea Life Great Yarmouth.

With 65,000 bed spaces across the Borough, nearly a third of all holiday nights spent in Norfolk are tourists staying in Greater Yarmouth. Nearly 25% of all holidays nights spent in Norfolk and Suffolk combined are taken in the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority (GYTA) is a unique public / private sector partnership, founded in 1994. It brings together all partners from both the public and private sector to ensure that together we can collectively provide a better resort to help businesses survive and flourish and ensure that jobs are created and sustained.