The scenic countryside of the Chilterns and its proximity to London means that it is enjoyed by millions of visitors every year. According to The Chilterns Leisure Visitor Survey 2007 an estimated 55 million leisure trips were made to the Chilterns in 2007, resulting in £471.6 million being spent in the local economy.
The survey provides a picture of the people that spend leisure time in the Chilterns countryside. Some key points of interest from the Survey are:
The largest proportion of leisure visits to the Chilterns is made by local residents living within the AONB or in adjoining towns (74%).
Walking remains the most popular activity on a trip to the Chilterns, enjoyed by two thirds of visitors.
People’s main reasons for choosing a particular site for their visit are familiarity, ease of reaching and good scenery.
When asked what they had most liked about their visit, over half of those who responded mentioned the scenery. When asked what if anything had spoilt their visit, the most common complaints (apart from bad weather!) were dog fouling, lack of dog poo bins and litter.
Local businesses in the Chilterns benefit greatly from people on leisure trips, with an average visitor spend of £8.54 per day. This spending includes meals and drinks, shopping and travel costs.
The 2007 Chilterns Visitor Survey was carried out by Tourism South East and was funded by the Chilterns Conservation Board, Natural England, The National Trust and Bucks, Oxon, Herts and Beds County Councils.
An Executive Summary of the Chilterns Leisure Visitor Survey 2007 can be downloaded here.
