BUSINESS owners have welcomed the success of the New Forest Tour which has seen record numbers of passengers jump on board over the summer.

The “hop on, hop off” bus service is estimated to have contributed £700,000 this year to the local economy after attracting 40,653 passengers for the seven-day summer service.

This number was up by 40 per cent from last year and the tour has also helped take more cars off the road, saving an estimated 223,000 private car miles this year.

Local businesses have said the three routes which serve a vast area from Lymington to Fordingbridge have given a real boost to tourism.

Chris Tabb, owner of Burley Fudge which is on the red and blue route said: “The New Forest Tour bus is by far the best thing to have happened for tourism in the New Forest and Burley, in particular the new blue route which covers the coast and a number of holiday sites.”

Rosie Kennar, Chairman of Hoburne Holiday Parks said: “Being on the new blue route has been great for both our guests and us as a company. The buses come into both Hoburne Bashley, just inside the New Forest National Park, and Hoburne Naish in New Milton.”

“It’s been fantastic for our guests looking to explore the area without having to use their cars, but we have also had great feedback from local families who have seen the Parks, and all we have to offer, possibly for the first time.”

The New Forest Tour is part of a two-year drive to encourage 370,000 people to get out of their cars and use greener transport by the end of March 2015.