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Eastbourne Top 2007 UK Holiday Resort The Southern coastal town of Eastbourne is the number one UK holiday destination for 2007, according to booking figures from United Co-op Travel Group. The group, which operates the 139-strong chain of Co-op Travel agencies throughout the North West and Yorkshire, has revealed its top 10 most popular UK resorts to mark this week�s British Tourism Week (12-18 March). Eastbourne beat Skegness, Jersey, Torquay and Scarborough to the number one slot. The town, which was shortlisted for a �Best UK Resort� award last year, attracts over four million visitors every year with tourism worth �343 million to the local economy. Eastbourne offers tourists both a countryside and coastal holiday experience thanks to its position as a gateway to the South Downs national park and its award-winning clean seas and beaches. Trevor Davies, General Manager of Retail Distribution for United Co-op Travel Group, says: �Whilst cheap flights and low-cost packages abroad will continue to have appeal, the UK could become the next �big� destination as people consider staying closer to home to help reduce the impact on the environment of green house gases produced by air travel. �At Co-op Travel, bookings to UK holiday towns and cities this year are up 17% on last year, so there is a real growing appetite to explore what the UK has to offer. This is great news for UK tourism.� Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Councillor David Elkin said �I am delighted we are number one yet again, beating London to the UK's hot spot. With the best sunshine record in the country, blue flag beaches, stunning scenery and a buzzing events programme, Eastbourne is definitely the place to be this summer.� The �568m turnover United Co-op Travel Group - one of the UK's largest independent holiday retailers and a division of United Co-operatives - works with major operators such as Bourne Leisure and Superbreak to showcase all the benefits that the UK has to offer through its network of travel agencies, travel homeworkers and call centres. United Co-op Travel Group�s top 10 UK destinations for 2007 are: 1. Eastbourne 2. Skegness 3. Jersey 4. Torquay 5. Scarborough 6. Llandudno 7. Prestatyn 8. Isle of Wight 9. Newquay 10. London |
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