Benefits to the rural economy of coastal walking
The benefits to the rural and coastal economies is clearly shown by a recent reports and studies and
that National Trails, such as the proposed English Coastal Path, play a major factor in attracting
visitors and boost tourism and the economy.
National Trails in Wales
“National Trails are a marketable attraction considered by accommodation providers to stand up well
to recognisably strong tourism products such as the beaches of Pembrokeshire. They offer an
opportunity for economic development in rural areas where alternatives are limited, often acting as a
catalyst for value added development.”

Over one third of accommodation providers located on or near a National Trail describe the
Trail as ‘very important to the profitability’ of their business.

On average, accommodation providers attribute 36% of their turnover to the National Trail.

Accommodation providers believe that almost 40% of their visitors come to the area to walk
the National Trail.

Accommodation providers believe walking is of some importance to over 60% of their
visitors.

68% of accommodation providers said that the proportion of their visitors making use of the
National Trail had grown over the last 3 years.

Almost half of all accommodation enterprises were found to provide accommodation for tour
operators providing a walking package on a National Trail.

Shops of all kinds were the type of service enterprise most likely to benefit from proximity to
a National Trail, followed by pubs/inns and café/restaurants in roughly equal proportions.

Just over one half of service providers say that the National Trail provides them ‘with
welcome additional income’. A further one fifth describe the National Trail as ‘very important
to the profitability’ of their business.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path has the greatest impact on accommodation providers, with
almost half saying that the Trail was ‘very important to the profitability’ of their business.
References:
The Benefits to Business of the National Trails in Wales - Report to Countryside Council for Wales
March 2006 FC 73-03-247
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/uploads/THE%20BENEFITS%20Wales.doc
Contact:
Justin Cooke
Senior Policy Officer
Tel: 020 7339 8528
Fax: 020 7339 8501
justinc@ramblers.org.uk
The South West Coast path
The South West Coast path is often taken as the blue print for the English coast path and if only
half of its benefits were to be gained else it would completely rejuvenate the social and economic
life of our coastal towns and economies. It also so clearly shows that where improvements to access
on the coast have been targeted they have shown that both the demand and use of such access
more than pays for itself through wider benefits to the rural economy.

The Coast Path is estimated to generate £307 million for the regional economy annually

residents of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset are estimated to spend £116 million
whilst using the South West Coast Path

73.3% of accommodation providers within one mile of the Coast Path consider it to be an
important selling point for their business.

The Coast path is a key attraction for the day visitor to the region with 40% of tourism spend
in the region being made by such visitors
References:
South West Coast Path National Trail – A framework for action 2007-2012.
South West Coast Path Project Officer, South West Coast Path Team – 01392 383560 or
swcpteam@devon.gov.uk
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southwestcoastpath
The English Coastal Path
The proposed English Coastal Path will bring economic benefits and jobs to areas of the coast not
currently covered by National Trails.

£61.5 million walking trips per annum made to the English coast.

£2,572 million generated for coastal economies by walking trips per annum.

£375,000 income to coastal economies for each mile of coast path per annum.

£284 million extra generated for coastal economies by a new English coastal path

100,00 full times jobs supported by coastal walking.

33 full time jobs supported by each mile of coastal path.

11,375 extra full time jobs generated by a new English coastal path
References:
Great Britain Day Visitor Survey
Economic and Social Value of Coastal Walking in England - An independent report produced for the
Ramblers’ Association by Dr Mike Christie and Jon Matthews