New research looking at the impact HS1 has had on Kent’s visitor economy shows that the high-speed service boosted the county’s economy by almost £73m last year alone, with the total economic impact since 2007 standing at £311m.
The report shows that leisure journeys to Kent have increased almost nine-fold, from 100,000 in 2010 to 890,000 in 2016, which has contributed more than £300m to the local visitor economy. Almost one third (30%) of all those surveyed were influenced in their decision to visit Kent by the presence of the high-speed service.
Over 400 visitors and 175 businesses took part in the study, which found that HS1 and the availability of high speed rail connections to London has played a significant role in the county’s growth – highlighting, in the words of Kent County Council’s Leader Paul Carter, “the very clear link between investment in infrastructure and growth”.
The full report can be accessed here