Chichester District Council has agreed to fund The Great Sussex Way with £130,000 per year (plus inflation) for the next four years, starting from April 2026, subject to a funding agreement, to support the promotion of the district as a key visitor destination.
John Cross, cabinet member for culture, place and sport at Chichester District Council, said: “Tourism is of huge significance to our district and many of our businesses and jobs are connected to the sector. In Sussex, the visitor economy supported 74,000 jobs, which is equivalent to 14 per cent of all employment and welcomed 62m visitors who generated £5 billion economic impact over the last year. In Chichester District, the visitor economy accounts for 20 per cent of our employment, so it’s vital that we continue to support this key area.”
The Great Sussex Way promotes the area on behalf of the council and supports more than 700 tourism businesses through digital marketing, trade events and promotion.
The organisation also delivers member networking events, group travel shows, and press coverage.
Cllr Cross said: “By supporting tourism, and in particular helping to promote the district as a place to visit, this can help produce positive knock-on effects for the rest of the local economy.”