TOURISM is now worth £49.4 million to Boston's economy according to newly published research.

Visit Lincolnshire, which compiled the information based on visitor statistics for 2009, says that figure is a £890,000 or two per cent increase from the previous year.

Boston Stump has played a major part in attracting more visitors to the area.

Overall in Lincolnshire the visitor economy last year was worth £971 million – an increase of £13 million compared with 2008- and contributes 14 per cent to the county's overall economy second only to the food industry.

Boston Borough Council's portfolio holder for tourism Richard Dungworth said: "These figures are very good news and reflect the hard work done by Visit Lincolnshire and Boston Borough Council staff in attracting both day visitors and holiday makers to the borough.

"It is also evidence of the quality of the welcome and the standard of tourist services provided by local businesses in Lincolnshire.

"Boston is a unique town with an unique church, Boston Stump, and is acknowledged by English Heritage as one of the most important market towns in the country in terms of heritage.

"We hope that visitor numbers will continue to increase as people realise what a jewel Boston is in the east coast crown."