The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mean up to £100 million for the economy in Sussex.

Tourism body VisitBritain says the games could help boost the county's reputation around the globe.

Towns and cities are expected to benefit from the buzz created as visitors flock to London before exploring the rest of the country.

Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Hastings, Arundel and Chichester are expected to experience a major increase in visitors from across the world while the Games are on and in the years preceding them, according to VisitBritain.

Conservative estimates have previously put the financial benefit of hosting the 2012 Games at around £2 billion, with an estimated £60 million of it spent in Sussex.

But VisitBritain says that could be nearer £100 million as journalists and other visitors arrive to find out more about Britain and why it is hosting the Games.

Elliot Frisby, from VisitBritain, said: "London is hosting the Games but it is also a gateway for visitors and once people have arrived they will definitely visit other places in the country.

"Sussex is very well set to reap that benefit because it is close to London and has places like Brighton which is a major tourist draw.

"There are going to be tens of thousands of unaccredited journalists arriving in the country from now until 2012, all wanting to see why Britain has got the Games and what it has to offer.

"The stories they send home will create a massive buzz around the world which will encourage people to visit us.

"We are looking at people from emerging markets such as China or Poland all wanting to come to London and go to Sussex to see what all the fuss is about.

"They will want to see why Britain has been chosen to host the Games and what the rest of the country has to offer - its culture, its nightlife, its entertainment."

Sussex will also reap the benefits of the Games because it is likely to play host to a number of competing teams, their entourages and supporters.

Local authorities have until the end of January to submit their bids to host Olympic teams.

Both West Sussex and East Sussex county councils are putting together bids and smaller authorities are expected to follow suit.

Universities are among the most likely places for teams to stay and the University of Chichester has already confirmed it is interested in hosting at least one team.

Its combination of sporting facilities and accommodation available while students are on their summer breaks makes it one of the leading contenders in the county.

Seb Coe, chair of the London organising Committee of the Games says: "London 2012 will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to show all we offer."