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• Tourism

Tourism

Over £2.8 billion annually

The tourism sector is worth over £2.8 billion annually to the Essex economy annually and supports over 54,000 jobs (7% of the county’s total). Business surveys show that Essex’s coastline is the greatest attraction for visitors to the county.

Areas such as Tendring have a thriving tourism industry with towns such as Clacton, Frinton and Walton.

To the south of the county, Southend features seven miles of coastline and the town’s pier and adjoining theme park are firm favourites with London residents who can easily access the resort via public transport from the capital.  The Pier alone attracts over 250,000 visitors a year to Southend with tourism activities as a whole bringing in £344 million to the local economy in 2010.

In 2010, tourism activities brought £292 million to Tendring's economy, and mid-Essex saw a boost of £138 million to Maldon's economy alone, with one of the biggest attractions being the Thames Sailing Barges.  Many of the Thames Barge vessels were commonly used in the 19th century, when the coastal barge trade was the lifeblood of Maldon's prosperity, facilitating trade of straw, manure and horse feed with London.  Today, they remain a feature in Maldon and along the Thames and an attraction for visitors and locals alike.