Script:
Link: Medway had a lot to celebrate in 2012. It was the bi-centenary of Charles Dickens, the
200th anniversary of the Royal Engineers museum and the towns were on the doorstep of
the biggest event of the summer, the 2012 London Olympics. It’s no surprise then that with
so many great events on offer, that more visitors than ever before travelled to the region.
I’m here in Rochester, where a number of attractions benefited from the increased number
of visitors to the area. Conservative Councillor Chris Irvine is a member of the Medway
Tourism Association, and believes that having so many anniversaries within the same year
was a significant factor…
Councillor Irvine: It was, it was, one of those sort of special years where, where a number of
things sort of came together and umm, I think it’s one thing we’ve always been very good at
in Medway is capitalising on the sort of events which we have and the historic connections
which we have with Dickens, with our sort of military history.
Link: Councillor Irvine also hopes that 2013 can be just as rewarding…
Councillor Irvine: I’m hoping it’s going to be just as prosperous. We introduced sort of err,
some new festivals last year which we’re looking to built on, umm. I think it’s the one thing
we’re particularly good at in Medway is putting on sort of festivals which attract people into
the area.
Link: Ed Woollard is Tourism Development Officer at Medway Council and says that despite
less coach visits to Medway than in previous years, this was made up by people visiting as
part of the London Olympics. Mr Woollard also believes that the recession in 2011 was a big
factor in encouraging more visitors.
Ed Woollard: I think you’ve got to remember that last year, not last year, the year before,
2011, was a slightly weaker and maybe 2012 because of all the things that were going on,
the celebrations, people were sort of more happy to come out.
Link: Another reason for the record number of visits was the variety of things to do in the
towns.
Ed Woollard: We have a very high density of attractions, for you know, a relatively small
geographical area. We’re very, very lucky given as you’ve got the naval military, and then
you’ve got the sort of Norman heritage of the castle and cathedral and the Dickens links as
well, so they all sort of play to the fore.
Link: One of the most popular attractions last year was Dickens World which is already
undergoing reconstruction work in preparation for its reopening in March. Family tickets are
set to be reduced by over fifty per cent in order to attract even more people. One thing’s for
sure, as long as visitors continue to flock to the towns, there will be plenty for them to get
up to and Medway is certainly ready or another busy year.