If we asked you to describe a typical visitor to Hastings, would the words young, stylish and affluent come to mind?
Perhaps not, but recent research suggests that maybe they should. Results have shown that the image of our town has been transformed and the type of visitor we now attract is young, high earning and trendy.
Results of research commissioned by Tourism Southeast and carried out by consultants Locum showed that Hastings was family orientated and popular with young people. Nine per cent of visitors were aged between 16 and 24. This was the highest figure recorded, which compares to 3% in Canterbury and 1% in Eastbourne.
Market researchers identified eight different types of visitor, each with a unique set of characteristics. Hastings was extremely popular with 'Style Hounds' and 'Cosmopolitans'. In fact proportionally, Hastings attracted more 'Style Hounds' than Brighton, Winchester and Oxford. Along with 'Discoverers' and 'Cosmopolitans', 'Style Hounds' are innovators and they are in the three highest earning groups.
Council leader Jeremy Birch said:
"Hastings reputation as a tired seaside resort has all but disappeared, and it seems word has spread of the major improvements that have been going on. It can only be good news for the town; a better image means we attract more visitors and new residents, which has a positive effect on the town's economy.
This shows that the work we have been doing to market our town differently has worked. We have been targeting exactly this audience in recent years and it seems the work is paying off".
Hastings is the place to visit and it's fast becoming the place to live as well. A recent report in Country Life magazine named Hastings as one of the top ten places to buy property in 2006. The article reviewed up and coming towns preferred by city executives looking to get away from the hustle and bustle and Hastings was near the top.
The magazine put Hastings sixth in a list of the areas predicted to have high demand for property this year. At the top of the list were Kensington, Chelsea and Pimlico in London with Salisbury and Ramsgate in the southeast. Demand for property in the Old Town is particularly high with local estate agents reporting good business even during normally quiet periods.
This recent article confirms the findings of a Royal Bank of Scotland report at the end of last year, which named Hastings as a property hotspot. This time, our town was rated as seventh in the top 20 places to buy for first time buyers. It seems an active regeneration programme is a big draw for house hunters. Thurrock, the town at the top of the list, was chosen because of its regeneration programme.
To find out why Hastings in the place to be check out www.visit1066country.com
Style Hounds (definition)
Fashion conscious, strongly influenced by others, risk takers who enjoy fun and excitement.
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This page last updated: 21/03/2006