Tourism is big business for
Bournemouth and Poole generating
some £600m a year and 20,000 jobs

Work in the West Solent region

There's more to Bournemouth than beach huts and busy promenades. Tourism is big business for Bournemouth and Poole generating some £600m a year and 20,000 jobs across the two towns. Conferences alone are said to generate £65m for Bournemouth and the town is keen to concentrate on higher value tourism.

Described as the place where business meets pleasure, Bournemouth has developed corporate hospitality, team building and leisure activities for conference delegates and visitors to enjoy.

Big name employers in Bournemouth include JP Morgan Chase, Fitness First was started in Bournemouth and has its HQ in Poole, RIAS insurance company, McCarthy Stone and Palmair.

The area benefits from good road and rail links as well as Bournemouth airport which has recently had a multi-million pound facelift.

Christchurch has a strong tourist economy but there is an industrial hub based at Bournemouth Airport which sits within the borough. Businesses include AIM Aviation, Cabair, Hobbycraft, Ocean Yachts and Honeywell Aerospace.

Cobham plc has its headquarters in Wimborne – the economy of the main town is geared towards leisure and tourism.

When promoting the area as a great place to do business, much is made of the lifestyle opportunities on hand.

Poole is also home to one of the best known names for luxury motor yachts in the world, Sunseeker International, taking advantage of the harbour setting and skilled local workforce.

Tourism has been the largest employer in Weymouth for decades and in preparation for the 2012 Olympics the esplanade has been restored and in some areas redeveloped.