TOURISM bosses are expecting the ‘busiest year ever’ as the city gears up for its first summer season with the new Westgate Centre open.

With the Easter weekend marking the start of the peak season for visitors to Oxford, staff at Experience Oxfordshire are predicting that problems with congestion and over-crowding will be avoided this year.

Vanessa Allen, the customer services development manager for the organisation’s visitor centre in Broad Street, said her staff were preparing for a ‘bumper year.’

On average the city receives seven million visitors every year but all signs point to that being higher in 2018, with the Westgate attracting people from closer to home as well as the usual foreign tourists, according to Mrs Allen.

She said: “The new centre is certainly a big draw.

“When surveys are done of what visitors are looking for when they go on holiday, shopping is always high on that list so it is another major attraction to bring people here.

“It will take some time for the city itself to adjust and work out how the balance and flow of people fits together, but I think it is a really great addition..

“When people come for the shopping they usually visit other destinations as well so it’ll be a boost for all kinds of businesses.”

Last year councillors complained that Oxford descends into ‘tourist hell’ during the summer months.

Mary Clarkson bemoaned coaches blocking roads and cycle paths and said it was impossible to walk along the pavement in certain areas due to the crowds.

This prompted Oxford City Council to consider issuing guidance on where groups could walk in large numbers.

But Mrs Allen predicted the opening up of more of the city for the first time will make a noticeable difference.

She said: “I think it becomes a story when there is a bottle neck in one little place.

“Last year a large area around the Westgate was closed off so we weren’t using nearly half the city centre and everyone ends up being in a smaller space.

“I can’t see the number of visitors getting unmanageable at the moment.”

Councillor Susanna Pressel, who represents Jericho and Osney said residents often complain to her about large groups and coaches clogging up St Giles and other ‘unsuitable streets’.

She added: “Tourism creates more jobs and prosperity, but some people feel that it is a mixed blessing.

“Let’s hope that some of these extra tourists go to the less well-known attractions.”