NEW figures have revealed that more than 45 million people visited flood-ravaged Cumbria last year - up two million on 2015.

Despite the major challenges of 2016, the statistics from the Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor – commonly known as STEAM - reveal that Cumbria received 38.8 million day trippers and 6.3 million overnight visitors last year.

Helen Tate, research manager at Cumbria Tourism, believes that Brexit and staycations have both had an impact on the numbers.

"Tourism statistics can rarely be attributed to any one factor, but we can certainly say that the impact of Brexit and the renewed trend towards staycations could be one reason for the recent growth," she said. "Cumbria Tourism’s recent winter marketing campaign helped to keep the county’s profile high nationally, and there are also indications that household finances have started to settle; this means discretionary spending may have eased a little too."

She added that growth could also be attributed to day visitors and re-investment in attractions and accommodation.

"Times are challenging and as the Brexit negotiations unfold, the changing political landscape will continue to provide new challenges," she said."However, these figures provide plenty of positive signs about our tourism industry here in Cumbria."

The growth in numbers brought in £2.72 billion to the county's economy and provided employment for 36,240 full-time equivalent posts.

John Moffat from the National Trust said that visitors to its Pay for Entry properties in 2016 were 9 per cent up on the previous year which was 'very pleasing' given the impact of the floods.

"Longer opening hours to give people access to these special places, and all our partnership work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, which saw Hill Top welcoming record number of visitors, explain some of these increases," he said. "It was also good to see many more people enjoying the outdoors on National Trust land – a fifth of the Lake District."

Sally Pilkington, marketing assistant for the popular World of Beatrix Potter attraction in Bowness, also said that she felt like it had been an 'aggregate' of factors.

"We know that over the last few years we have seen a big growth in visitor numbers," she said. "I suppose this year with the change in the pound and an increase in people in the UK visiting and in general the Lake District has become more well known abroad due to advertising.

"I think it's not one thing thing that has boosted the Lake District it's lots of little things that have had an aggregate effect."

Research showed there was also a longer-term upward trend in overnight stays, which have grown by 1.2 million visits since 2013.

The latest tourism stats will be one of the key themes to be discussed at Cumbria Tourism’s upcoming annual general meeting, which takes place on June 15 at the Rheged Centre in Penrith.

All of Cumbria Tourism’s 2,400 member businesses are invited to the event, which will also see the unveiling of the seven new private sector non-executive directors to help drive forward the organisation’s commercial aims and ambitions.

Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said: “Times are tough, but the evidence suggests that we have a strong and resilient industry, which is continuing to grow year on year.

"The day visitor market is looking particularly positive, but of course, it’s not just about the volume of people. What we want to do is attract more high spending, staying visitors, particularly from expanding overseas markets, and encourage them to explore all corners of our diverse and inspirational county. In this way, we can continue to help drive the local economy through retail, leisure, accommodation, and food and drink."