AS Greece accepts emergency austerity measures in order to affirm their status as a Eurozone country, there are parallels that can be drawn between Greece’s economy and our own – a key component of which is tourism.

In 2013, tourism contributed more than £126.9bn to the UK economy – nine per cent of the nation’s GDP. Honing in further on the figures in our area, tourism in Dorset contributes more than £807m, being 11 per cent of our total economy.

Much like Greece, a country rich in heritage, history and culture, Dorset depends a great deal upon its visitors, and in turn, the capabilities of the businesses within it to transform spending potential into earnings. These figures also affect businesses in the area that aren’t necessarily directly dependent on tourism – spending in our county comes a great deal from those living within it too, and with a successful boost in tourism spending, our economy thrives.

It’s a firm belief that one of the key factors in retaining this crucial element is a continued investment throughout the area. We need to ensure that public spending in the county is consistent with the increased visitor figures we see each year, together with diverse and modern infrastructure improvements which will surely allow for more online-driven business and further generate interest in our area.