Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on Beach City Success

Brighton was recently declared to have the fourth best city beach in the world by the CNN Travel website, putting us ahead of Barcelona, Miami and Jumeirah. While other countries might have guaranteed sunny weather, our unique twist on the British seaside resort and the energy and charm of our residents and businesses are unrivalled.

We’re a major European business conference and tourist destination, attracting around 8.5 million visitors per year – many of whom come to experience our famous vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle and strong arts and cultural offer.

Tourism is a vital part of our year-round economy, bringing some £772 million to local businesses including hotels, restaurants and retailers. Over 18,000 jobs are supported by visitors opening their wallets.

However, many other towns and cities are struggling – so much so that an upcoming government inquiry into tourism is focusing on “reversing a long-term decline in seaside destinations” as a key issue.

Brighton and Hove’s success at attracting growing numbers of tourists year on year is due in part to the huge range of things to do and see here. Whether it’s the Royal Pavilion, having a barbeque on our beach, or taking the kids to the new Level playground, there’s something for everyone.

Meanwhile, major events like the cycling Tour of Britain and next year’s Rugby World Cup will mean many will be visiting us over the coming months.

But we must continue to invest in our city to make sure visitors old and new keep coming. This includes building on our key strength – our modern mix of businesses and world-class attractions in the cultural, creative and traditional tourism sectors.

It’s only by building on our diversity that we’ll continue to stand out as the place to be.