Thanet's visitors
The Isle of Thanet has been welcoming visitors for over 200 years, in fact, in 2023 we gave a warm welcome to around 4.6 million! (Cambridge Model Economic Impact Study).
This is great news, but 70% are day-trippers, and most visit in the summer. Our goal is to boost the local economy year-round by attracting more overnight visitors – people who will spend on accommodation, restaurants and shopping. This is key to helping our local businesses grow and create quality, stable jobs.
So who’s visiting now?
Groups
Couples and families make up 71% of groups
Origin
Mostly UK visitors from London and the south-east (just 6% from overseas)
Motivation
Our coastline and beaches are the biggest draw (80%)
Travel
Whilst most people still arrive by car, more people are choosing to travel by train
Sustainability
75% of visitors consider sustainability when choosing to visit a destination
(From Thanet’s Visitor Survey 2025)
Our focus audiences
To encourage off-peak short-breaks, we’re targeting segments who can travel outside of school holidays. By focusing resources here, we can make a real difference:
Free and easy mini-breakers:
These are typically younger, single people or young couples, perfect for short, spontaneous trips outside the peak season.
Fuss-free value seekers:
Budget-conscious ’empty nesters’ looking for good value beach breaks.
By diversifying our audience and focusing on year-round appeal, we hope to set our local businesses up for long-term success.
More information
For more information on the visitors to Thanet, read the results of the Visitor Survey 2025.
