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Premiership status has boosted tourism
Wigan's sporting pulling power will come under the microscope next year to see how much impact it is having on tourism.
Two years ago the Leisure and Culture Trust commissioned a special report to find out how Latics first season in the Premiership boosted the economy.
The survey reported an additional 11m with 200,000 visitors.
Now they'll look at the rugby and Haydock Park as well.
Latest tourism figures have revealed a 1% increase in spending in the borough up to 485.6m in 2006 while the number of visitors to the borough is 12.1 million – an increase of 3% on 2005.
Tourism development manager in Wigan, Keith Bergman, said: "Two years ago we carried out our first sports tourism report now we're looking to get another handle on sports tourism including the rugby and Haydock Park.
"Premiership football has improved tourism tremendously in terms of headline figures for food and drink for example.
"Tourism figures for 2006 show a 1% increase and we should celebrate that.
"Wigan are still in the Premiership which is good for the town, the Grand Arcade opened this year and the Wigan Pier Quarter and Leigh Sports Village coming on line can only be good for the future."
Mr Bergman said the closure of The Mill at the Pier and Opie's Museum of Memories had "absolutely not" had a negative impact on tourism and the Wigan Pier cultural quarter was a "very very positive step forward".
The tourism report also found more people are employed in tourism jobs than ever before with 7,286 a rise of 1% while the biggest increase was seen from people coming to shop.
There was also a 3% rise in day visitors opting for Wigan for a wide range of attractions from Haigh Hall to walking along the canal.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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