As more hotels are needed to cope with an expected surge in tourism, a new website has been set up to help developers.

VisitKent and Kent County Council are rolling out a £400,000 tourism marketing campaign designed by M&C Saatchi with the aim of boosting visitor numbers.

A growing population forecast to grow by 10 per cent by 2021 is also likely to inject more urgency into the situation.

Locate in Kent, the investment promotion agency, is targeting hotel developers with the new website to help them find suitable sites and properties.

Tourism is worth £2.6bn to the Kent and Medway economy and supports around 50,000 jobs.

More than £50m has been invested in hotels over the past two years, including two new Premier Inns, a Ramada Encore in Chatham and a 113-bed Travelodge in Maidstone.

Four established hotels have been given a facelift.

There are plans for several new hotels, including one at the London Golf Club, near Brands Hatch, and a 120-bed hotel for the Accor Group on Gillingham Waterfront.

LiK chief executive Paul Wookey said: "The new high speed domestic rail service launched in late 2009 has meant that Kent has become increasingly accessible both for business and tourism.

"Alongside this, the Open Golf tournament in Kent in 2011 and the London 2012 Olympic Games will also offer fantastic opportunities for new hotels in Kent."

Meanwhile, LiK's 13 staff based at Kings Hill, West Malling, have moved down the road to new offices.

It has taken 1,581 sq ft in 35 Kings Hill Avenue after previously occupying 2 Kings Hill Avenue.