BOURNEMOUTH has been voted number four in this summer’s top ten holiday hot spots, with bookings up by 8.8 per cent.

Coastal resorts are still the country’s leading tourist attractions and could be one answer to boosting the UK’s flagging economy, according to a leading tour operator.

Despite many families suffering from stretched finances, English seaside towns have seen the strongest growth in bookings of all UK holiday destinations, faring better than major cities such as London and Edinburgh.

Top of the holiday resort chart is Exmouth in Devon with Somerset’s Weston-super-Mare securing second place and Portpatrick in Scotland third.

Seaside resorts count for eight out of the top ten growth destinations for this summer, figures from tour operator Shearings reveal.

The over-50s travel firm believes the resurgence of the seaside holiday could be a key opportunity for struggling resorts to give their areas an economic boost and is backing tourism minister John Penrose’s campaign to encourage local businesses and councils to put tourism high on their agendas.

Mr Penrose said: “These superb figures underline what I have always said – Britain’s seaside towns still offer a great day out, or weekend away, for families, couples and friends.

“We tend to overlook them but they’re wonderful, fun and buzzing places with great scenery, heritage and attraction. With events like the 2012 Olympics and the Royal Wedding there will be even more opportunities to showcase the best the UK has to offer.”

A Bournemouth Tourism spokesperson said: “It is great to hear that our resort has featured highly in this latest survey. The seafront has certainly been busy these last few days and visitors to our Bournemouth.co. uk website have increased by 14 per cent, compared to this time last year.”

Meanwhile readers of Coast magazine have voted Studland the second best British beach after being pipped at the post by Holkham in Norfolk.

Bournemouth was chosen as the second best seaside holiday destination, behind St Ives in Cornwall. Urban Reef in Bournemouth was voted runner-up in the best seaside restaurant category.