WYCHAVON’S chairman and Evesham councillor Robert Raphael has been celebrating some of the district’s popular attractions, as a new report reveals tourism adds more than £171million to the local economy.
Research carried out on behalf of Wychavon revealed in 2022 more than 3.7 million day trips or overnight stops were made to the district. More than 3,100 jobs are also supported by tourism.
The figures show Wychavon’s visitor economy is making a good recovery following the impact of the pandemic, with the value of the district’s tourism sector rising 25 per cent on the previous year.
As part of his Chairman’s 50th anniversary tour of the district, Coun Raphael has been experiencing some of the visitor attractions Wychavon offers.
They include Hartlebury Castle which opened to the public in 2018 following a £5million overhaul funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
As well as beautiful grounds, the castle offers visitors an interactive look into the lives of the bishops who lived there, including one who went on to become the pope who refused Henry VIII a divorce. The site is also home to Worcestershire County Museum where visitors can find out fascinating facts about the county, spend time in the 1950s themed diner or go back to school in Victorian times.
Coun Raphael was also able to get his hands on a Bible from the 12th century in the impressive Hurd Library, which contains more than 5,000 books.
