FILMING in parts of the Cotswolds for the hit period drama Downton Abbey is having a positive effect on the area.

Figures have been recently gathered which shows a two-fold increase in the number of visits to a website that promotes the district.

Visits to www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org which publicises the Cotswolds as a must-see tourist destination doubled to almost 370,500 hits last year.

The tourism team at West Oxfordshire District Council says the increase is thanks not only to the website improvements, but also a number of other factors. These include a rising interest in the district due to it being used as a film location for the hit ITV television series Downton Abbey, as well as a growth in social media attracting people to the website.

The website is run by the district council as part of its work to promote the area under the banner of the ‘Oxfordshire Cotswolds’ and support the local tourism industry.

The increase in visitors follows recent confirmation that tourism continues to grow in the district with latest figures showing a 2.1 per cent annual rise in spending in the sector, making it worth an estimated £273.8 million to the local economy.

Councillor Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member responsible for tourism, said: “The huge rise in visits to the website in 2014, coupled with another impressive increase in tourism spending, is absolutely fantastic news for West Oxfordshire.

“As well as drawing in website visits from overseas including as far afield as China, which is a growing market for the UK with great potential, the statistics show the highest number of visits were from within the UK and the improvements to the website are key to this audience as they include things like a better ‘what’s on’ section and free downloadable walks in the area.

“The statistics also show the significant impact of the popularity of Downton Abbey, with high numbers of visits to a dedicated page setting out West Oxfordshire’s involvement in the TV series and detailing film locations, and we’ll be carrying on expanding this area of interest.

“There can be no shadow of doubt about the importance of tourism to our district and these figures demonstrate that there is a growing online market, which we will continue to tap into as part of our ongoing support and commitment for this sector.”

America, Canada and Australia were the top website visitors after the Uk, followed by Germany, Netherlands, France, China, Russia and Belgium.