Tourism ambassadors and local businesses are joining forces to champion Dorset as a diverse destination throughout English Tourism Week (13 to 22 March).
For this national celebration of tourism, Dorset Council’s Visit Dorset team is inviting residents and businesses to showcase everything that makes the county special throughout the year.
From the rolling hills of the countryside to the stunning Jurassic Coast or the bustling market towns to the quaint villages – Dorset has something for everyone.
This year’s theme is ‘Local Stories, National Growth,’ and in Dorset the businesses and the people behind them are key to supporting local growth.
Dorset Council leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, said: “Tourism is a key part of our economy and in the council’s economic growth strategy, we highlight the importance of promoting Dorset as an all-year-round attraction.
“Our visitor economy is vital; it sustains vibrant rural and coastal communities and contributes £1.73 billion to the Dorset economy while supporting 30,000 jobs.
“English Tourism Week is a great opportunity to demonstrate our support to businesses and promote all that makes Dorset so special.”
During English Tourism Week, Visit Dorset will be highlighting the county’s experiences, hidden gems, and vibrant visitor economy.
Tourism businesses are also encouraged to take part by sharing stories, special offers, and events and using the free Visit England toolkit to help amplify Dorset’s voice nationally.
One local business taking part is Stay Original Co, which owns seven boutique hotels, three of which are in Dorset.
Stay Original’s Relationship Manager, Kirsty Schmidt, said: “We are fortunate to run hotels in Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Dorchester and it’s important to highlight just how special and significant Dorset’s visitor economy is.
“Visit Dorset does a fantastic job of showcasing our vibrant local businesses and ensuring the whole county, from coast to countryside, benefits from increased visibility and support.”
This year already looks to be a special one for Dorset, with Weymouth taking centre stage on Friday (13 March) when Greg James launches his BBC Radio 1’s Comic Relief Challenge from the seafront.
2026 also marks the 25th anniversary of the Jurassic Coast becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site and internationally acclaimed artist Jerram is bringing his world-renowned ‘Helios’ installation to Dorchester in time for the Easter holidays.
And the year got off to a great start when Visit Dorset hosted Dutch travel trade experts to the county – taking them to Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Blandford’s Hall & Woodhouse Brewery site, Corfe Castle, the Blue Pool near Wareham, Athelhampton House & Gardens near Dorchester and the Cobb at Lyme Regis.
Dorset businesses that would like to take part in English Tourism Week can download a free toolkit here: English Tourism Week | VisitBritain.org
To follow what’s happening in Dorset in English Tourism Week and throughout the year, go to www.visit-dorset.com
Remember, some want to turn Dorset into a massive oil industry and kill off the countryside as we know it.
