Personality profile


How we promote the gateway to England


The Sandra Matthews Marsh interview By Jane Shotliff


Tourism is now reputed to be worth


SANDRA Matthews Marsh, chief executive of Visit Kent, has been a key figure in the Kent’s travel and tourism industry for more than a quarter of a century, during which time she has seen the ‘Garden of England’ blossom and flourish. Indeed, recent research reveals that


the economic impact of tourism on Kent has soared by a dramatic 16% in the past five years – not bad considering we are currently in one of the worst recessions in living memory.


4 Mid Kent Living


£3.4 billion to Kent and Medway – so managing its success is a weighty responsibility. But Sandra (49) clearly thrives on the opportunities and challenges each day brings. Her passion and vitality are immediately apparent – and clearly a key factor in the growth in Kent’s popularity as a destination for day trips and short breaks. With the massive market of London and the Home Counties right on the doorstep, Sandra said: “We are ideally placed for people wanting to escape the city, go out for a nice meal and wake up somewhere with a wonderful rural or seaside view.” Another challenge is tempting those


who come into Kent’s ‘gateway’ of Dover to pause and enjoy all that Kent has to offer before heading for the bright lights of London and cities further afield. Almost 2.5 million cars drove under the English Channel last year – along


with 10 million passenger trains. The secret now is in getting them to stop. The Olympics had a significant part to play, but Sandra is hopeful that many visitors who ventured through Kent on their way to the Capital for the Games will now be tempted to return and explore more of the South East. “Being a gateway to England is an


occupational hazard,” says Sandra. “But investment in attractions such as the Leeds Castle, Turner Contemporary in Margate, the new Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, improvements to Maidstone Museum, plus new attractions at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, and the


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48