June saw visitors busting out all over Kent and Medway as the area's £2.5 billion tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses basked in a welcome sunshine boost.

But Visit Kent, the organisation responsible for marketing the area, has warned that the industry is facing tough challenges.

Latest figures from Visit Kent show that, after a dull start to the season, the better weather in June and a later than usual half-term school holiday saw the region's attractions enjoy an over-all rise in customers of seven per cent on 2009.

Up went the number of passengers using cross-Channel services by seven per cent.

Business and conference activities had a 10 per cent bookings boost.

Guests to larger hotels soared by six per cent.

Tourist information centres had a 10 per cent rise in inquiries.

And more people are choosing the area for a "staycation" holiday instead of going abroad following a new advertising campaign.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive of Visit Kent, said the statistics contained excellent news - which was very welcome after a difficult start to 2010.

But she added: "The market overall is still highly competitive and challenging particularly for our cross-Channel service providers and our hotels and guest houses."

Visit Kent estimates that the Kent and Medway area has about 45 million visitors every year and the business supports more than 50,000 jobs and boosts the local economy by about £2.5 billion.

More details at http://www.visitkentbusiness.co.uk/.