Bath a ‘leading light’ on international tourism map, Clegg says

Looking up at Bath Abbey
A View of Bath Abbey on May 7, 2014. (Photo by Todd DeFeo)

Bath, the English city that is home to some of the most spectacular Roman ruins outside of Italy, is a “leading light” in the tourism sector, England’s deputy prime minister said this week.

“We want to create a strong economy, to keep jobs in the area, invest in the area, and Bath is a leading light on the international tourism map,” the Bath Chronicle quoted Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as saying.

Clegg, a liberal democrat who has been deputy prime minister since 2010, was in Bath on a campaign stop. He called the Thermae Bath Spa the“jewel in the crown of the Bath tourism industry,” the newspaper reported.

Located roughly 100 miles west of London, Bath is a perfect destination for a day trip from England’s capital city. A tourist destination since the city’s founding during Roman times, Bath today is home to roughly 80,000 residents and sees more than 4.4 million visitors annually.

The city, a popular destination for international travelers to England, has a rich and colorful history. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987, the city may be the location where King Arthur in 500 AD defeated the Anglo-Saxons during the Battle of Badon.

Meanwhile, visitors to Bath are quite satisfied by their experience, according to a recent survey.

The South West Research Co. survey of 1,000 in person and 1,043 online surveys revealed visitors rated Bath a 4.43 out of 5, the Bath Chronicle reported previously. Roughly one in four visitors (24 percent) visit the city on a day trip while 55 percent stay overnight, the survey revealed.

Avatar photo
About Todd DeFeo 1625 Articles
Todd DeFeo loves to travel anywhere, anytime, taking pictures and notes. An award-winning reporter, Todd revels in the experience and the fact that every place has a story to tell. He is the owner of The DeFeo Groupe and also edits Express Telegraph and Railfanning.org.