BOURNEMOUTH'S move to become a world-class destination was given a boost on Friday when two potential international investors representing the Middle East visited the town.

Representatives from the Saudi Arabia and Kuwaiti Embassies took a tour around Lansdowne, the East Cliff and Bournemouth town centre on Friday, August 21, led by Tony Williams, chief executive of Bournemouth Council and foreign minister, Tobias Ellwood.

They were then joined for lunch at the BIC with invited business people including Jeff Mostyn, chairman of AFC Bournemouth, Vincent Boni, junior vice-president of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and staff from Bournemouth University.

Tobias Ellwood, who has responsibility for the Middle East within the Foreign Office and is MP for Bournemouth East, said: “There is clearly international investment opportunities and obviously working with the Foreign Office, it’s always good to see further investment in Britain.

"However, it does tend to focus around London, Birmingham and Manchester so when better to invite potential investors than during the Bournemouth Air Festival."

He said that businesspeople from the Emirates were already investing in the area such as The Suncliff Hotel, Cumberland Hotel and Cliffeside Hotel, which were bought by a Qatari firm in April.

"This isn’t new but it’s showing the Sovereign Wealth Funds that actually there is opportunity to invest in our tourism, digital economy, financial services and in our academia.

"I’m very grateful for the private sector such as the council and academia coming together to showcase what Bournemouth has to offer.

"We already excel at financial services and tourism and this is clearly a fantastic place for long-term investment to move us to be like the Barcelona or Miami of this part of the world.

“We are now, with praise to AFC Bournemouth, one of only 20 locations in the UK that can boast a Premier League team, so all of this is pointing to Bournemouth having a more prosperous and ambitious agenda."

Mr Ellwood added that this is the start of a journey with all the 'major players' from across the town coming together to show the best of what Bournemouth has to offer.

Tony Williams, chief executive of Bournemouth Council, said that the representatives looked at Lansdowne including the Cotlands Road site, they 'explored a number of opportunities along the East Cliff', the Hilton Hotel, the Exeter Road complex and the 'potential of Westover Road.'

"We have been highlighting the opportunities available along the coast and obviously after the acquisition of the Oceana Group with the Qatari investment earlier this year, there are significant opportunities.

"It is fair to say that at the moment Bournemouth is a growth hotspot and as a result we are being seen as a far more attractive investment among more well-known towns and cities.

“After London, Bournemouth has the highest net value of investment anywhere. Bournemouth is also the fastest place in the UK in terms of digital growth."

“It’s a great opportunity and obviously the Air Festival backdrop has just helped created that canvas. It is the case that while the council is investing in the Air Festival, Wheels Festival and the Arts by the Sea Festival, we can use them to promote the economic opportunities in the town, both to the government and to external agencies.

"It is fair to say that they have been extremely impressed with Bournemouth.”

Vincent Boni, managing director of Newsquest Dorset and junior vice-president of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), said: “When you draw back and look at what Bournemouth has achieved and what it has to offer in terms of potential investment, it is staggering and we are at the beginning of a period of accelerated economic growth.

“Bournemouth is known to be the fastest growing tech ‘city’, outstripping far greater metropolitan areas and with a conurbation equivalent to Bristol and Bath.

“Investors need to get in at the start of the curve.”