Oswestry is set to be a “tourism hotspot” this year as the recession sees more British holidaymakers stay in the UK, town councillors have been told.

Visitor numbers to the town’s tourist information centre have already indicated Oswestry is likely to cash in on stay-at-home tourism this summer, Oswestry Town Council’s annual meeting heard yesterday.

The upbeat message was given during a presentation to councillors by Sue Ellis, from the Oswestry Borderland Tourism organisation.

The organisation helps B&Bs, hotels and tourism attractions to promote their businesses. It also helps staff Oswestry’s tourist information centre (TIC) and visitor and heritage centre.

Miss Ellis, Whittington Castle manager, said: “This is a very important year for tourism. More people will be taking British holidays.

“Visitor numbers at the heritage centre have increased on other years. We normally get 15,000 to 16,000 visitors in a year.

“We have already had 4,000 visitors since January which is incredible if you think about how bad the weather has been.

“There has been a huge increase in visitors to Whittington Castle in the last few weeks.

“Places like Oswestry and the Welsh borders are going to be hotspots for tourism because we provide good value for money. We will attract more visitors.”

Miss Ellis said it was vital to promote Oswestry and the surrounding villages to potential visitors.

She said 25,000 copies of a new brochure advertising the best of the visitor attractions and accommodation in the area had been published.

Miss Ellis said two new staff had been taken on at the Oswestry TIC.