Built by the Victorians as an elegant seaside resort, then celebrated through the 1960s and 70s as a vibrant entertainment destination, our town has genuine leisure heritage to be proud of. Now we’re working to shape what comes next. Using ‘capacity funding’ provided by Government, we’re developing a fresh ten-year tourism strategy that puts residents at the heart of how our town welcomes visitors, creates jobs, and builds a thriving year-round economy.
A vision that works for everyone
Our vision is clear: Eastbourne as East Sussex’s premier location for leisure, culture and entertainment – a welcoming coastal destination where people experience great events, culture and active lifestyles in an iconic natural environment.
This strategy will be about balance. Welcoming visitors in ways that are environmentally sustainable and enhance rather than disrupt residents’ quality of life. Tourism should work for us, not against us.
Building on our strengths
We’ll combine what makes Eastbourne special in unique ways – pairing heritage with modern wellness and active leisure, making the most of our natural environment, and working with event organisations to build on our festivals calendar and extend experiences into wider town centre programming.
We’ll also be looking at how to develop a thriving evening and night-time economy in support of our hospitality and cultural businesses year-round. Better jobs. Stronger skills. A town that feels alive and safe beyond the summer months.
What happens next
Working closely with tourism, cultural and events partners, we hope to complete these plans by the summer. We’ll take account of the new seafront strategy and wider tourism plans pan-Sussex to ensure our approaches connects with regional thinking and are fit for the future.  Eastbourne has incredible potential and we see it every day. This isn’t about chasing visitor numbers for their own sake – it’s about creating a modern tourism economy that benefits local people first, protects what we love about this place, and builds something our young people want to be part of.    Â