Broadchurch may be coming to a dramatic close tonight with the secrets surrounding Danny Latimer’s murder finally being uncovered but tourism in west Dorset is set to continue to see the benefits that this fantastic TV series has brought to the area.

West Dorset District Council Leisure and Tourism Manager Nick Thornley said: “Broadchurch has firmly put West Dorset on the map and it’s just the boost that tourism businesses need at this time. “The series has showcased the fabulous Jurassic Coast, and West Bay in particular, to millions of potential visitors and the district council's tourism team have been working hard to make the most of the benefits that a major TV series such as this can bring to the area.”

Dedicated web pages have been set up on visit-dorset.com and the district council’s tourism team has carried out a range of marketing initiatives including, competitions, web and social media promotion as well as targeted email campaigns and the response has so far been astounding.

The visit-dorset.com website achieved a record breaking month in March with more than 100,000 unique visitors, more than three times the amount compared to last March, and April is on track to receive a similar number of visitors.

Enquiries about the area have also increased with many people asking about the filming locations and ordering copies of the West Dorset Holiday Guide.

The cast and crew of the show have also helped to raise the profile of the area with David Tennant being quoted as saying: “This is the only place you’d ever want to come on holiday.”

Olivia Colman described the area as “idyllic” and Pauline Quirke said that she has: “Absolutely fallen in love with the place.” Creator and writer, Chris Chibnall, made the Dorset landscape very much a part of the drama and described Broadchurch as “a love letter to the scenery of the Jurassic Coast”.

The team will continue to work hard to promote the area on the back of the TV series with various campaigns, including a giveaway of ten Broadchurch DVDs when it is released on May 20.