Tourism

Shropshire has a thriving tourism industry which plays an important role in the county’s economy. With approaching 11 million people visiting each year, the sector generates revenues of more than £560 million annually.

The majority of tourism businesses are independently owned and there are business opportunities in the areas of extreme sports and eco-tourism enhanced by the quality of life available within Shropshire.

Visitors are attracted by the county’s historic market towns, breathtaking scenery and cultural heritage as well as the Unesco World Heritage Site at Ironbridge and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal alongside the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The county is also home to some of the region’s key tourism attractions, including the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, which operates 10 museums within the World Heritage Site, Severn Valley Railway and the RAF Museum at Cosford.
The more energetic visitor can take advantage of the numerous activities available, including horse riding, cycling, golf and canal boating. For those wishing to undertake more unusual pursuits, Shropshire offers opportunities in handgliding, paragliding and hot air ballooning. The county also has excellent facilities for walkers, with Church Stretton, nestled at the foot of the Long Mynd in the AONB, having recently been awarded “Walkers are Welcome” status.

Overall, tourism directly supports over 8,000 full time equivalent jobs and more than 6% of all Shropshire-based jobs are tourism related.

For further information about tourism within Shropshire visit www.shropshiretourism.co.uk