COLCHESTER’S tourism figures caused quite the stir last year. It was the first time we found out the very scientific difference between “trips”, “visitors”, “visits” and “tourists”.

The latter, we now know, is just one part of the “visiting economy”.

We also now know you don’t have to be a “visitor” to the town to be classed as a “visitor”.

As a “visitor”, you might make a number of “trips” to venues in Colchester - which is great.

Why wouldn’t you? But that means the figures, though entirely legitimate, are naturally skewed in terms of what you or me class as tourism.

To be clear, our aim is not to rubbish the huge efforts put in to bring Colchester to where it is in the tourism pecking order.

It is to show our readers exactly what the headline 6.3 million figure includes. That’s our role - to tell it as it is.

Colchester’s tourism offering is incredible.

In the town centre alone, we have Colchester Castle, Firstsite, Colchester Arts Centre, Hollytrees museum, Leisure World, the historic St Botolph’s Priory, the Roman Wall and the jewel in our crown, Castle Park.

Outside of the town, there are Mersea and Dedham which attract visits all-year round.

Our area is incredible. As John Constable could testify, it has the scenic views, it has the history and it has all the mod cons - bars and restaurants et al - tourists expect when they visit somewhere these days. We’re lucky to live where we are and those 6.3 million visits come as no surprise. Even if some of them are made by you and me.