UK Coastal Resort - Blackpool

Question 1

Is our case study a National Park or a coastal resort?

Answer 1

Coastal Resort

Question 2

Where is Blackpool?

Answer 2

North-West England

Question 3

Why did Blackpool become a tourist resort?

Answer 3

• Blackpool’s growth was due to its position and accessibility.
• During the industrial revolution , Lancashire became a major industrial area and the workers and their families visited Blackpool for short holidays and outings because it was close by.
• The opening of the railway line in 1846 made it even more accessible.

Question 4

What problems does Blackpool face?

Answer 4

• Visitor numbers declining – 2% per year
• Average length of stay falling – 50% in 15 years
• Holiday accommodation occupancy low – average 22%
• Accommodation stock shrinking – 1.6% per year
• 56,000 bed spaces
• Current poor image not helped by its popularity as a stag and hen do resort
• Decaying infrastructure
• Ageing visitor profile
• High unemployment levels – Low Skills
• Average earnings 72% of UK average
• Low educational attainment
• High retail leakage out of Blackpool (35%)
• Poor quality environment

Question 5

What have the solutions been?

Answer 5

•Talbot Gateway project includes:
- 46 hotels, 142 homes, a new court, police headquarters and retailing units.
• Hounds Hill shopping centre
• Building and maintaining groynes and sea walls to stop beach erosion
• A super casino- creating 3,000 jobs
• Six new headlands
• Tower Festival headland
• Regeneration of Blackpool airport
• New facilities e.g. the Pepsi Max
• Investment in beach and street cleaning equipment.
• New promenade
• Modernised tram and extension of the route.
• Modernised train station

Question 6

Have the solutions been successful?

Answer 6

• Lost out on the super casino to Manchester.
• Unemployment is still rising.
• Visitor numbers are not growing. Occupancy rates are still low.
• People still only mainly visit for day trips and weekends.
• Still has a bad reputation amongst many.