WEYMOUTH is on course for a bumper year for tourism according to experts.

Low interest rates and the weak sterling will attract more investors and holidaymakers in 2017, especially in the south west, say hospitality sector specialists at Colliers International.

It comes as figures from VisitEngland reveal that 2016 set a new record for spend on day trips across the country.

The organisation said a local breakdown of its figures will not be available for several more months, but data published by the South West Research Company in November revealed Weymouth and Portland is on an upward trend, with both spend and visitor numbers increasing year on year.

Cllr Jason Osborne, borough council briefholder for tourism, said he wasn’t surprised to hear predictions 2017 will bring a tourism boost.

“You hear about tourism dipping nationally but the South West always manages to buck the trend. I think because the sterling is weak, people will want to stay in the UK for their holidays and spend their hard-earned cash here, which is great. 

“The day trippers and weekend trade in Weymouth is unrivalled and I’ve seen evidence of that first-hand. The holiday parks told me they had a tremendous year in 2016 and they are hoping for a repeat of that this year. I can’t see any reason why that wouldn’t happen.”

According to the figures from VisitEngland, Brits spent a record-breaking £45.3 billion on day trips across England in the first 11 months of 2016.

The figures show that the number of domestic tourism day trips in England from January to November were up 14 per cent on the same period the previous year with spend up seven per cent, both records.

VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “It is great to see more people getting out and exploring the huge range of quality destinations and tourism products on offer right across the country. There is nowhere like England when it comes to incredible experiences on your doorstep.”

Hotels director for Colliers International Peter Brunt said low interest rates and poorly performing savings accounts, ISAs and pension schemes could persuade more people to think of buying into the hospitality sector whether it be hotel, pub or Bed & Breakfast.

He added: “For me, the Great British Staycation has never quite lived up to its billing – largely due to indifferent summer weather in the UK.

“But with the pound hitting low levels against a basket of foreign currencies, we believe the Staycation might finally be here to stay.”