Over a thousand tourists will be checking into a Poole holiday park for the school’s February half term.
Parkdean’s Sandford Holiday Park, located in Holton Heath six miles outside of Poole, is the only caravan park in Poole that welcomes tourists at this time of year.
The park’s reception manager, Julie Turner, said “We are preparing for a large intake over the half term week, over the weekend we have just over 250 bookings and on Monday we have 205 bookings.
“It is great for all the seasonal staff because they only work when the park is open to guests, and us opening benefits local tourism. Outside the park we have a good bus service which takes guests to Poole and Wareham, where there are lots of shops and restaurants.”
The family park has over 300 static caravans and a large camping and touring area which opens in March.
Businesses in Poole and Wareham rely heavily on tourists. In 2007 the value of tourism survey found that Poole attracts over two million day visitors each year and they spend roughly £103 million.
The Dolphin shopping centre has over a hundred retail shops. One of the staff at Thornton’s chocolate shop, David Wellstead, said they make more money in the summer months.
“We definitely make more money in the summer, tourists generally spend more money in the shop and they usually buy our more desirable products because they are on holiday and treat themselves and their family.”
