Discover Worthing - Summer 2017

With its beautiful seafront, spectacular green spaces, thriving cultural activities and friendly welcome there is only one message this summer for would-be visitors: Discover Worthing.

That is the slogan under which the borough council is about to launch a major marketing campaign aimed at increasing the numbers of visitors.

Already tourism officers are pulling together an extensive and exciting programme of events as well as enforcing the message that Worthing has the best of all worlds: blue skies, blue seas and green spaces.

Discover Worthing will be backed by the launch of a new website, a major advertising campaign and a number of gold star events throughout the summer.

Families, adventurers and those just seeking to kick back will be catered for as the council continues to up its game on attracting visitors to sample the delights of the borough.

Latest figures estimate that some 4.4 million day and staying visitors spending approximately £138 million a year come to Worthing.

This year’s plans include:

·         Learn how to paddle board and kite surf events

·         Beachcombing for all the family trails

·         Summer of Circus Festival

·         StreetVelodrome cycle race in June

·         A seafront bike hire scheme.

As part of the council’s £189,000 tourism budget work is still ongoing on many of these and other schemes to ensure there is something for everyone this year either as daytrippers or for those staying longer.

Up to 100 Worthing tourism stakeholders including hoteliers, retailers, gallery owners and restaurateurs were involved in discussions about the new branding and given the opportunity to submit ideas on improving the offering for the 2017 season.

Judy Fox, Worthing Borough Council’s Visitor Experience and Marketing Officer, part of the new Tourism & Events team, has been hard at work discussing with businesses what they would like to see being offered to visitors to the town.

She said:”We are working hard to bring the programme of events and activities together under our new Discover Worthing brand which will launch in May.

“We want to let people know that when they come here they can experience our great outdoors, get back to nature and away from the hustle and bustle or they can really get active in our great open spaces. There is something for everyone here.”

Cllr Bryan Turner, executive member for regeneration, said: “Whether it be our theatres, our seafront or our green spaces we have a great offering in Worthing. Discover Worthing will help us significantly up our game.”