More than 2,000 new hotel rooms are needed to meet demand for holidays and visits in the South West, according to the region's largest firm of international property consultants.

John Kinsey, specialist leisure partner at King Sturge in the South West, said: "There has been a significant growth in hotel development in this region, but we have identified an outstanding requirement for more hotel bedrooms in most of the South West's main centres."

Despite the massive growth of cheap-flights from the region's airports, encouraging South West travellers to spend their holidays and short-breaks overseas, the region's tourism industry lacks sufficient hotel rooms to accommodate leisure and business travellers wanting to visit the South West.

"In Bristol for example, there has been a surge in new hotel development. But the city still has an unsatisfied demand for an extra 1,000 bedrooms," Mr Kinsey said.

Other South West centres with a hotel-gap include Exeter (600 bedrooms), Plymouth (400 bedrooms), Taunton (200 bedrooms), Truro (300 bedrooms), Torquay (300 bedrooms), and Newquay (up to 300 bedrooms).

"While Bath and Torquay have long been major centres for tourism, generating strong demand for hotel capacity, the region is seeing some very significant changes," added Mr Kinsey.

"For example, Bristol is now attracting much higher demand from both business and tourist visitors, while Newquay has become a national visitor-destination.

"This is a very real opportunity for hotel developers - and it is crucial to the region's economy that those extra hotel rooms are delivered."

Contact John Kinsey at King Sturge's Exeter office on 01392 423696.