Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry is enjoying a welcome boom as the busy summer season gets underway says the county’s leading trade organisation.

Thanks largely to an increase in the UK’s staycation market, the county has already welcomed thousands of visitors since the break- up of schools for the summer holidays. Different tourism sectors, including accommodation providers, restaurants, visitor attractions and activity providers have all reported a significant increase in visitor numbers and expectation is high.

Pembrokeshire Tourism has spoken to many of their members across the county to establish the initial impact that extra visitors have had on their business.

Tourism liaison manager Dennis O’Connor said: “Following a very busy Easter, visitor numbers settled for a period which is normal. During that time, our members have been working extremely hard to prepare for the crucial summer months and they’ve reported a significant increase in numbers since last weekend.”

With the falling value of sterling, overseas visitor numbers are also on the increase.

Recently, it was widely reported that businesses in Wales and Scotland had already seen up to a 27 per cent increase in foreign spending and the attractiveness of Pembrokeshire as a holiday destination means that the county also gains from this important market.

Pembrokeshire Tourism’s chairperson Jane Rees-Baynes, who owns Elm Grove Country House in St. Florence, said: “Already this year we’ve seen visitors from the Far East, South Africa, Australia, Germany and Holland, and with sterling low, the signs are that Pembrokeshire will continue to attract more and more overseas visitors who not only want to take advantage of their money going further, but who also want to explore and experience the fantastic coast and countryside that Pembrokeshire is able to boast.

Pembrokeshire is a wonderfully diverse county which is more than holding its own against other travel destinations because tourism operators dovetail their businesses perfectly with the natural beauty of the area.”