Is Blackpool still popular with tourists?
Makayla Bergstrom
2025-04-26 22:17:23
Count answers: 3
Blackpool remains a leader among UK destinations, attracting 20 million visitors annually, more than any other seaside resort. Its diverse appeal, from thrilling amusement parks to cultural heritage events, continues to draw crowds. Blackpool’s Promenade footfall surged in summer 2024, with a peak of 6.8 million visitors in July, up 41% compared to 2023. Additionally, free events such as the Blackpool Air Show, World Fireworks Championships, and Christmas by the Sea drew massive crowds, helping cafes, restaurants, and other day-trip-focused businesses thrive. Visitor numbers have been great, but they haven’t been staying over. We’ve seen plenty of visitors, but they’re not staying overnight. Higher visitor numbers feed the cafes and restaurants, but it hasn’t been good for hotels. The growing reliance on day-trippers presents a significant challenge. Day visitors bring in vital income for restaurants, cafes and attractions, but they don’t sustain the hotels, theaters and nightlife that have long defined Blackpool’s character. Without a return to overnight tourism, many businesses could struggle to survive.
Mayra Howe
2025-04-26 22:03:21
Count answers: 3
Now, new visitor numbers reveal a startling rise in tourists to the popular Lancashire resort, with data for 2023 showing it attracted 21.5m tourists - a 6% increase compared to 2022's figure of 20.3m. The annual STEAM report, which independently measures indicators including attendance at events, visitor attraction numbers and occupancy levels at hotels, also shows the value of Blackpool's tourism industry remained stable at £1.98bn, with the resort accounting for 32% of the value of Lancashire's total visitor economy. The data also showed that the number of full-time tourism and hospitality jobs supported in Blackpool has grown to 23,419, a 5.3% rise from the previous year. Blackpool Council leader Councillor Lynn Williams said the figures were very encouraging. All of these factors, combined with strong partnerships and impactful marketing, reinforce our commitment to keeping Blackpool as the UK's most visited seaside resort and firmly establishing it as a thriving year-round destination. The council’s own tourism performance data, revealed in December, showed footfall on the Promenade increased last summer. Its free events programme and investment in new attractions were cited as driving up visitor numbers.
Neoma Rath
2025-04-26 18:48:25
Count answers: 1
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. Blackpool saw a summer 2024 footfall on the Promenade soar, peaking at 6.8 million in July, a 41% increase on the previous year. Blackpool continues to outperform other UK seaside spots, drawing an impressive 20 million visitors each year. Its varied attractions, from adrenaline-pumping rides to cultural events, keep it popular among tourists. 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. Visitor numbers have been great, but they haven't been staying over. We've seen plenty of visitors, but they're not staying overnight. Higher visitor numbers feed the cafes and restaurants, but it hasn't been good for hotels. 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.
Read also
- Why did tourism decline in Blackpool?
- What was the downfall of Blackpool?
- When did Blackpool go into decline?
- How much does tourism contribute to Blackpool's economy?
- Where did the steel come from for the Blackpool Tower?
- Why is life expectancy in Blackpool so low?
- Does Blackpool Pleasure Beach make money?