Tourism has always been a vital part of the economy of Rye – we are proud of our rich history and rightly so. Visitors from home and abroad love the character of the town – its independent high street, its unique festivals, its arty vibe.
March 17 marks the start of English Tourism week and destinations all round the country will be shouting loudly about what they offer best. This year more than ever before we need to make sure that Rye’s share of voice is not lost given the uncertainty about the future of 1066 Country Marketing which has so successfully been our destination marketing organisation for the last 25 years, coupled with the closure of Rye’s information point which has always been a hub for visitors to the town.
While we are heartened to know that Rother District Council continues to show support for the continuation of the 1066 brand there is currently no further news on what shape or form this might take. The potential for Rye’s visitor economy is largely still untapped – there is much opportunity for growth – of course that potential is very investment dependent and funding opportunities are something that the Chamber is committed to exploring and lobbying for.
This English Tourism week show some support for our town’s businesses who work hard to attract visitors to the town – we are blessed with range of top quality accommodation, an exceptional choice of restaurants, bars and cafes and a high street that isn’t a cookie-cutter replica of every high street around the country. Instead, ours is one that is full of independent businesses run by individuals who are passionate about their brands – everything from clothing, lifestyle and homewares to galleries and antiques – all of which makes the visitor experience to our town unique.
And let’s not forget the history of Rye showcased via the town model in the Heritage Centre, which we are pleased to note will be opening again very soon, the town museum, the Ypres Tower, the Gun Gardens, St Marys Church, Lamb House – the list goes on. That’s before we even begin to mention the attractions in the surrounding area from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve to Camber Sands and the adventure sports and bike hire businesses that allow visitors to enjoy our landscape.
Here at the Chamber of Commerce, we will be doing our best to highlight our member’s business across the week and I hope you’ll join with us to show our appreciation for the work they do to keep our town on the tourist map.
Image Credits: Chris Lawson .