The scale of how important tourism is to the local economy has been revealed in new research. Tourism is now worth more than £900 million a year and supports over 18,000 or one in five local jobs in and around Rye, Camber, Hastings, Bexhill and Battle.
The 2024 figures, compiled by 1066 Country, show the area generated 13.5 million trips to local accommodation, hospitality, retail, transport and attractions. Day visitors accounted for 11.9 million of those trips and £421.9 million of spend, while 1.6 million overnight visitors stayed a total of 6.3 million nights, injecting a further £249 million into the local economy.
Meanwhile, the impending arrival of the world‑famous Bayeux Tapestry in the UK is being seen as a “once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance” to showcase the area to a global audience and grow the local visitor economy.
The tapestry will be exhibited at the British Museum in London between September 2026 and July 2027.
Sarah Broadbent, chair, 1066 Country said, “These latest figures show just how vital the visitor economy already is to 1066 Country. If we get this right, the tapestry’s homecoming can help extend the season, encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more locally, and inspire a new generation to discover our shared history. Beyond the tapestry itself, nowhere can tell its story better than 1066 Country, where it all happened. The visitor economy here supports one in five jobs, making tourism vital to our communities. All too often we’ve been one of Britain’s best-kept secrets, but this is our moment to share our story, our heritage and our hospitality with the world.”
1066 Country says that the tapestry loan, combined with these strong figures, strengthens the case for renewed investment in marketing, skills and infrastructure across the region. Plans being explored include joint campaigns with the British Museum, themed trails connecting the exhibition to sites such as Hastings, Battle and Pevensey and targeted offers to encourage day‑trippers to convert their visit into an overnight stay.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .