Kent’s Heritage Coast receives Lonely Planet accolade as one of the world’s best regions to visit in 2022
Kent’s Heritage Coast has been named one of the world’s best regions to visit in 2022 in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022.
Kent is the only UK destination to feature within this year’s round-up with a particular focus on Kent’s Heritage Coast which was praised for its commitment to sustainable tourism initiatives, combined with the regeneration of the historic town of Dover, Creative Folkestone, and plans to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Deirdre Wells OBE, Visit Kent chief executive, says: “We are incredibly excited and hugely honoured to see Kent’s Heritage Coast cited as one of Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations for 2022. This stretch of our glorious county is home to sandy beaches and iconic chalk faces, alongside thriving cultural hotspots and an exciting, rolling programme of events.
“Our ongoing work with Kent’s tourism businesses and colleagues at the Kent Downs AONB – as part of the Interreg Experience project – has allowed us to develop a host of brand-new products for market, which support our destination’s green recovery following the significant effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are continuing to strive for new, low-impact ways that visitors can experience the Garden of England in-line with changes in consumer demand, and ultimately look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy Kent’s Heritage Coast first-hand in 2022 and beyond.”
Nick Johannsen, director of the Kent Downs AONB unit, adds: “We are absolutely delighted that Kent’s Heritage Coast has been recognised globally and are honoured that this part of Kent is flying the flag for sustainable tourism in the UK. This is a real testament to the beauty of our landscape and a reminder of how important it is to tread lightly as we enjoy the countryside and coastline.”
Visit Kent will shortly be launching a partnership with AccessAble to continue to improve accessibility across the county. This, along with plans to launch a sustainability pledge encouraging consumers to make small changes whilst visiting the destination, are two examples of the ongoing commitment from Kent’s tourism and hospitality industry to ensure that visitors receive a welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable experience, whilst ensuring that travellers have a positive impact for the future.
