by Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

The Guardian recently published an article naming their top 40 holiday destinations.

It included the usual, like Cuba, Iceland, China and Turkey.

But I have to admit to being surprised to find Folkestone made the worldwide top 40 list.

Please don’t get me wrong. I think Folkestone has a very attractive coastline and is certainly an upcoming area that has benefited from significant investment.

But it got me thinking. You don’t often see the true extent of what’s on your doorstep, so I thought I would search the web and look at sites like Trip Advisor to see what others had to say globally.

According to visitors who have posted reviews, Folkestone hotels and restaurants generally get a good rating with the majority scoring four out of five.

Bearing in mind the majority tend to use Trip Advisor to tell others of where not to visit and what bad experiences they have had, then four out of five is fantastic.

I then searched further and looked at people’s views on the Creative Quarter and what great reviews that got – most scoring five out five.

Comments like: “The Creative Quarter is a social experiment helping to regenerate Folkestone.

“Full of small shops, artisans and artists some of whom succeed and some of whom don’t, it is constantly changing and evolving.

“With galleries, studios and shows there is always something interesting to see down the Old High Street.”

Another said: “A steep cobbled narrow street that felt you had travelled back in time. The atmosphere was enhanced with the lit string of lights that weaved up and down.”

You do get the odd negative review, too, but you would expect that if you went to any of the other 39 destinations chosen by the Guardian.

I started off by mentioning the significant investment that has been made and continues to be made in Folkestone.

What better way to describe the town than using the words: “Kent’s connected coastline: culture, business opportunities and growth’.

So well done to Folkestone, it is fast becoming a jewel in the county’s crown.

And when you next have time to spare, take a trip and see what it has to entice you.