KEY TOURISM SECTOR CONTINUES TO GROW IN LEICESTER AND LEICESTERSHIRE

 Staying with Friends and Relatives (SFR) contributes over £112 million to local economy

Tourism contributes £1.25 billion to the Leicestershire economy and a key growth area is the Staying with Friends and Relatives (SFR) market. This particular sector brings in an estimated £112 million per year and continues to grow as people choose to take more domestic short breaks in economically-challenging times.

A unique opportunity awaits Leicester residents and their visitors at 3pm on 1 July 2009 as the recently appointed Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor Councillor Roger Blackmore has invited visitors staying with friends or relatives in the city to take tea with him at the Town Hall in Leicester. For more details and to register your interest for your visitors to attend this event, please visit www.goleicestershire.com/city, click on the Lord Mayor links and send your details, as instructed (note - all visitors planning to attend must pre-register).

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, commented: "Staying with Friends and Relatives is the one category of visitor that has increased consistently over the last few years. With the sector flourishing in Leicester and Leicestershire, visitors now have a unique opportunity to enjoy a warm, civic welcome from the new Lord Mayor of Leicester."

Research* last year revealed that the emerging SFR market has made a significant contribution to the visitor economy in Leicester and Leicestershire. The figures show that in 2006, SFR visitors to Leicester contributed over £112 million to the local economy, amounting to 28 per cent of the total revenue received from visitors to the city (almost £400 million).

Notes to Editors:
*The findings are part of a major study into the economic impact of tourism in Leicester, Leicestershire and throughout the East Midlands, commissioned by East Midlands Tourism, emda's regional tourism arm.

About Leicester Shire Promotions:
Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 as a partnership between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting and visitors, services for and visitors, and services for the tourism industry. For more information, please visit www.goleicestershire.com

For further media information, please contact:
Simon Gribbon
Leicester Shire Promotions
T: 0116 225 4001
simon.gribbon@l-p-l.com