The chairman of Wychavon District Council has been celebrating its most popular tourist attractions following reports that tourism adds over £171 million to the area's economy.

A recent study carried out on behalf of Wychavon established that over 3.7 million day excursions and overnight stays occurred in the district in 2022, bolstering over 3,100 careers within local tourism.

<hr>

Read more: TripAdvisor top five Worcester restaurants for 'cheap eats'

<hr>

These statistics suggest a robust recovery for Wychavon's visitor economy following the Covid-19 pandemic, with the district's tourist sector seeing a 25 per cent increase in value compared to the previous year.

Worcester News: Cllr Raphael visited Hartlebury Castle, which opened in 2018 following a £5 million refurbishment

Councillor Robert Raphael, in honour of his 50th-anniversary tour as chairman, explored some of Wychavon's attractions, including Hartlebury Castle, which opened to the public in 2018 after a £5 million refurbishment backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Besides its grand exterior, the castle provides a captivating glimpse into the lives of past resident bishops, including a future pope infamous for refusing Henry VIII a divorce.

During his visit, Cllr Raphael also explored the Hurd Library, housing over 5,000 books, including a 12th-century bible.

His tour also took him to Upton Warren's Aztec Adventure Park, where he tackled a rope climbing exercise and had a go at canoeing.

Worcester News: Cllr Raphael visited Simply Alpaca in Dormston parish

Cllr Raphael's visit included a stop at Simply Alpaca in Dormston parish, where he learned about the alpacas and their history.

The attraction offers distinct experiences like alpaca walks and felting lessons with alpaca fibre.

Encouraging locals to rediscover the area, Cllr Raphael said, "It was fantastic to get a taste of some of the diverse and wonderful visitor attractions Wychavon has to offer.

"We often overlook the amazing places to visit we have on our doorstep and I would encourage residents to be a tourist at home and find out what they can discover."

Cllr Richard Morris, the council's executive board member for economic growth and tourism, echoed his sentiments: "Tourism is an important part of our local economy, and I am delighted to see visitor numbers returning to their pre-pandemic levels.

"Wychavon has lots to explore, and I look forward to seeing these figures increase further in the years ahead."

To discover more about Wychavon, visit http://www.valeandspa.co.uk.