Blackpool, often hailed as a top UK seaside destination, is facing a tourism dilemma despite record visitor numbers.
Millions are still drawn to its famed attractions like the Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Tower, but there’s a shift towards day trips rather than overnight stays, worrying local hoteliers and business owners. Claire Smith, president of Stay Blackpool, has labelled 2024 “one of its most challenging seasons ever,” with the cost-of-living crisis playing a significant role.
“Visitor numbers have been great, but they haven’t been staying over,” she told BBC Lancashire. The resort’s accommodation sector is feeling the pinch from rising costs for utilities, food, staff wages, and national insurance hikes.
Despite these challenges, Blackpool saw a summer 2024 footfall on the Promenade soar, peaking at 6.8 million in July, a 41% increase on the previous year. Moreover, Blackpool continues to outperform other UK seaside spots, drawing an impressive 20 million visitors each year, the Express reports.
Its varied attractions, from adrenaline-pumping rides to cultural events, keep it popular among tourists. The opening of Showtown museum, which celebrates the town’s entertainment legacy, has been a highlight.
Free events like the Blackpool Air Show, World Fireworks Championships, and Christmas by the Sea have brought in huge crowds, benefiting cafes, restaurants, and businesses that cater to day visitors. Blackpool’s hotels, once pillars of the local economy, are feeling the pinch, even as eateries note an uptick in footfall.
A growing trend of day trips over overnight stays is causing concern among hoteliers and business owners
“Higher visitor numbers feed the cafes and restaurants, but it hasn’t been good for hotels,” acknowledged Smith. Due to steep energy costs and staffing issues, numerous dining places have curtailed their opening times from seven to five days a week.
Smith noted the influx of customers, commenting, “We’ve seen plenty of visitors, but they’re not staying overnight.” Economic pressures have compelled certain eateries to scale down operations, while affordable European city getaways continue to seduce would-be overnight guests away from Blackpool.
The increasingly common sight of day-trippers is a double-edged sword, certainly a boon for local diners, cafes, and attractions that see a bump in revenue, yet this shift fails to bolster the hotels, theatres, and nightlife integral to Blackpool’s historic appeal.
The pivot towards day tourism bears considerable implications; whilst it injects much-needed funds into some sectors, if overnight stays don’t pick up, a multitude of establishments might be hard-pressed to withstand the economic tide.
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