New figures have emerged to suggest Brighton and Hove's tourist industry has fully recovered from the post-September 11 slump.

The city now attracts almost eight million visitors each year, according to the first part of a study by Visit Brighton, the council's tourism division.

It showed tourists ploughed £377 million into the city's economy in 2003, similar to the amounts generated in the late Nineties.

Hotel and bed-and-breakfast guests generated the most, about £172 million, while day-trippers added £163 million to the coffers.

Self-caterers spent almost £12 million a year while those who stayed with friends and family poured £30 million into the economy.

The accommodation sector was the biggest winner of the apparent revival, raking in a hefty £82.48 million. Food and drinks businesses collected £51 million while retailers pocketed more than £65 million from visitors to the city.

The transport sector, including buses, trains and taxis, netted £26.73 million.

Experts say the figures show Brighton is back in business after a series of setbacks which have left the global tourism industry reeling.

Mel Sensicle, head of marketing at Visit Brighton, said the report, called The Economic Impact Of Tourism, highlighted three key facts.

She said: "Brighton and Hove has done really well to bounce back from September 11, foot and mouth and the Sars outbreak.

"All of this hit the tourism industry badly and Brighton was no exception but these figures are comparable to 1998 so everyone deserves a pat on the back.

"The second thing that struck us was that visitors who stay in hotels spend more than day-trippers - you could say disproportionately more.

"Finally, the report told us just how important shopping and eating and drinking is to the economy and how tourism benefits the retail sector.

"Our findings show people come for the independent shops in The Lanes and North Laine which sends out a very important message to our city.

"We should protect those areas from the bigger chains and multinationals because they are clearly one of our biggest attractions."

Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, cautiously welcomed the figures but fired a warning shot.

He said: "The biggest threat to the future of the tourism industry in Brighton and Hove is the question of how we get people into the city.

"I would guess that we are running near full capacity with eight million visitors and that would be disastrous.

"You have to have spare capacity. Think of the thousands of visitors we want to attract at Black Rock, King Alfred and the Brighton Centre.

"Will we be able to cope?"

May 17, 2005