A SHORTAGE of coach parking facilities in Kidderminster and Bewdley could hamper efforts to boost tourist visits to the towns, councillors have been told.

Members of Wyre Forest District Council's prosperity panel were given a briefing paper updating them on progress in looking at the local visitor economy.

The research was approved last year by the council, in a bid to co-ordinate key visitor assets and attractions to enable them to play the fullest part possible in pumping tourist cash into Wyre Forest's economy.

In the meantime, a Worcestershire-wide visitor survey and economic impact assessment has been carried out. Initial results of that had to be reassessed in the wake of concerns across the county regarding the results.

Perversely, they indicated "economic activity" was decreasing, while attractions were showing an increase.

Findings revealed Wyre Forest and its attractions were promoted regionally, nationally and internationally through partnerships and a mix of traditional and electronic promotional materials and methods.

The district council's Tourist Information Centre in Bewdley and its Kidderminster satellite office were the main outlets locally for tourist guidance.

In the briefing paper prepared for last night's meeting of the prosperity policy panel, economic development and tourism manager, Steve Singleton, highlighted the coach parking issue.

He said: "While this was not a problem in Stourport, there are issues in Bewdley and Kidderminster," adding: "There are only two parking bays in Bewdley and, in Kidderminster, there is no designated 'drop-off' area.

The visitor survey showed Wyre Forest had around 1.6 million visitors in 2004 - the year for which the most up-to-date information was available. Visitors had a total of 600,000 night stays during that year.

Tourists spent £54 million in the year, with, on average, £5 million spent in the local economy each month. Overnight visitors spent £18 million, compared with £36 million by daytrippers.

Tourism supported around 1,400 jobs, with almost 1,100 of those directly tourism related.

One suggestion for improving the attractiveness of Wyre Forest towns to potential visitors was introducing floral displays.

The example of Bridgnorth, where the town council had received sponsorship from local businesses for such displays, was quoted in the report.