The Business Barometer is a monthly snapshot of tourism business performance in Kent.  Over 50 attractions,  200 accommodation providers, 20 conference venues, 5 cross channel carriers and 16 Tourist Information Centres submit their figures to Visit Kent on a confidential basis.  This confidentiality enables businesses to report on the issues affecting their results allowing them to benchmark and react quickly to market conditions.

To see results for 2010 click HERE

Some highlights include:

♦ Visits to the Visit Kent consumer website rose by 26%, the thirteenth month in a row.
♦ Kent attractions performed 3% better overall than the South Eastern average in the first quarter of 2010.
♦ Port of Dover handled 15% more passengers in April than a year earlier, with figures boosted in part by the closure of UK airspace for six days. The ash cloud resulted in a 20% boost to cross channel passenger numbers overall, a 20% boost in car crossings and a 27% boost in coach traffic as stranded
holiday makers made their way home from destinations such as Spain by coach.
♦ The Ash Cloud had an impact on three visitor information centres, and in particular Dover where many visitors contacted the VIC for help with up to date information and travel
♦ The High Speed Rail link has some Visitor Information Centres reporting an increase in visitors, with more people using the train, and enquiries from those selling homes in London to move to the coast.

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By invitation of Richard Moffatt, a Trustee of the Sellindge Locomotive Preservation Group, I visited newly leased site just outside Sellindge where old steam engines and locomotives go when they have finished service - if they are lucky.

Richard and some of his colleagues walked me round the site where I could see many engines of all types awaiting expert attention by the skilled men who have a love of engines, and have mostly been involved with trains, for most of their adult life.

Several groups from across Kent and London use this site and have their own engine project on the go there - and to complete their own projects which may take many years they share skills across all the groups. It really is a labour of love for them - because when faced with the size of the task ahead most of us would just turn around and go home.

Recently the group acquired a 99 year lease so they are now making plans to build a new workshop - currently most of the work in bad weather is done in a huge tarp covered construction or in one of the many workshops on site. Once the building is in place they would like to offer training to other, maybe younger, railway enthusiasts to share the learning and increasingly rare skills that they have.

Antwerp has been moved to New Bridge loading point on the North Yourkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) whilst documentation is signed off later this week and before transport is being arranged.

This historical locomotive has been standing at the NYMR (the line featured in the ‘Heartbeat’ TV series), out of use for about 25 years and requires major boiler and mechanical work before returning to service.

The Kent Coast Locomotive Group (KCLG) has already dealt with one locomotive of this type. All the members of this group belong to the Remembrance Line Association and have earmarked this locomotive for exclusive use on ‘The Remembrance Line’. In full working order these powerful locomotives are ideal for tackling the steep 1 in 30 incline on the Folkestone Harbour Branch.

http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/

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Image by Elsie esq. via Flickr

Heritage Tours return to the RH&DR on Saturday 12th June (Dungeness Line) and Saturday 3rd July (Hythe end of the line). These highly popular evening excursions by diesel hauled train will stop off at points of historical interest and will be lead by members of our Association Heritage Group who are experts on the history of the line.

The tour starts at 5.15 and returns to New Romney at approximately 9.30

Tickets are going fast and are limited in number. They cost £24.00 (Child £16.00) and include a buffet tea before departure. Both tours can be booked for a discounted rate of £44.00 (Child £30.00).

Tickets can now be bought using our Booking Hotline 01797 363256

Reduced rate tickets for Association members are available from Andrew Goyns on 01924 417499 (£19 Adult and £13.50 Child)

http://newromney.blogspot.com/

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A fun family activity weekend with a 1940’s theme. 1940’s and Home Guard re-enators at the stations as well as travelling along the line. Numerous vehicles around the stations.

• The Home Guard camp at Dymchurch
• Desert Rats at Dungeness.

New Romney station will have the armoured train on display, a large vehicle display, Heritage tours of the station also the lindy hoppers and clover sisters providing entertainment.

In association with our friends from the USO, an evening of Dance is being laid on whereby they will be authentically recreating the USO production of the Second World War, which is guaranteed to complete our 1940’s event experience; tickets are available in advance at £7.00.

Further Information

For current information, last minute changes regarding times of trains and prices, or if you require further assistance from the RH&DR then:

• email direct to New Romney
• Latest News & Events
• The Romney latest information
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• Telephone: 01797 362353
• Fax: 01797 363591