The traditional British seaside resort
The growth of tourism in the UK was largely based around coastal resorts.
Case study: Blackpool
Blackpool is an iconic tourist resort and its coastal location was the main reason for its development as a tourist resort.
Attractions include:
- the Pleasure Beach - a theme park which is the UK's most visited tourist attraction
- a sandy beach
- the Blackpool Illuminations - a spectacular light show during the autumn months to prolong the tourist season
- concerts and shows
Central Pier, Blackpool
Decline
Like many other UK coastal resorts Blackpool suffered a decline in tourist numbers. This was due to:
- foreign travel to the Mediterranean growing in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s due to its more reliable hot weather and sandy beaches
- the expansion of package holidays and cheaper flights
- the growth of budget airlines and cheaper accommodation from the 1990s onwards
- overcrowding in Blackpool and a shift in the market to late night drinking, stag and hen parties
Rejuvenation
In 2000, Blackpool launched a ÂŁ300 million regeneration project. Recent projects to improve the town for visitors include:
- Brilliance - a town centre lighting scheme which aims to encourage visitors to explore the town centre further at night and during the day
- tourist attractions - The Big One, Sandcastle Waterpark and Winter Gardens are examples of attractions designed to regenerate Blackpool as a tourist destination
- Houndshill Shopping Centre - redeveloped to improve shopping in the town centre
- the beach - Ways of protecting land from being flooded or worn away by the sea, eg building a sea wall or a boulder barrier. have been replaced with 'Spanish steps' leading down to the sea that will protect the coastline and increase public access to the seafront