The city's official tourism website had a record breaking month in July with more than 140,000 unique visitors, up from 88,000 in 2009. Over the first seven months of the year, to the end of July, the number of people visiting the website to get information about the city's offering rose by 33%.
 
This online interest has transferred to strong visitor numbers in the city. In the last three months Brighton Visitor Information centre, situated in Pavilion Gardens and run by Brighton & Hove City Council, has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors. There has also been a 21% increase in accommodation bookings made through VisitBrighton, Brighton & Hove City Council's tourism service, during the first seven months of the year compared with 2009.
 
Visitor numbers to the Royal Pavilion are also up, increasing from 135,000 in April, May, June and July 2009 to more than 153,000 in the same period this year.
 
As the bank holiday approaches, a busy weekend is expected - but there are still vacancies available for anyone looking for a last minute break.
 
Councillor  David Smith, Brighton & Hove City Council's Cabinet Member for Culture Recreation and Tourism, said:
"The ash cloud, worries about airport strikes and the recession have prompted many people to holiday in Britain this year. We are also seeing strong visitors numbers from Europe, the exchange rate makes it good value for them to holiday here.
 
"The year got off to a slow start because of the harsh winter and snow in January and February, which make the increase in accommodation bookings even more significant in recent months.
 
"We are certainly not complacent, we are working hard to maintain visitor levels throughout the year and we looking ahead to campaigns for the winter and 2011. For example we have already welcomed 40 travel journalists to the city this year which has generated publicity in national magazines in this country and abroad, and have 15 more journalists coming over the next six weeks."
 
For tourist information, including details of forthcoming events in the city, visit:
www.visitbrighton.com