Wimborne | Posted on September 22nd, 2026 | return to news

Tourism Minister visits Dorset in support of coastal communities

Tourism and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock visited Dorset last week to see how tourism and sport boost business.

Tourism in Dorset contributed £1.73 billion to the UK economy in 2024, supporting nearly 30,000 jobs, with £1.5 million in grassroots sport funding supporting 21 local projects since 2024.

The Minister visited Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast to see how efforts are helping to encourage families to take a trip to the South Coast. She also visited the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, one of the UK’s leading sailing venues and the principal training base of the British Sailing Team.

Since hosting sailing events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Academy has helped develop elite athletes while strengthening Weymouth’s reputation as a premier destination for sailing and water sports.

With less than two years until the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the Minister saw how UK Sport’s £23.95 million investment is helping British athletes prepare.

The Minister then visited Weymouth Harbour and the award-winning museum at Nothe Fort to see how the town’s maritime heritage, coastline, and events programme drives the local visitor economy and complements its sports offering.

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Place Stephanie Peacock said: “To help increase visitor flows across the UK, a forthcoming Visitor Economy Strategy will set out the Government’s long-term, place-based plan to boost value and deliver sustainable growth across regional visitor economies.”

The Government is also investing £3.38 million through Visit England’s Connected Destinations Fund to help destinations come together to develop stronger visitor experiences and drive sustainable tourism growth.