Blackpool will take up to five years to recover from the pandemic

The seaside town of Blackpool has always been a popular tourist attraction. In the height of summer it can attract people to the coastal areas and the pleasure beach then in the autumn and winter the annual illuminations brings in families and young  children. 

 

Sadly though, because of the pandemic it’s recently reached a crashing blow. Tourism bosses believe it could take up to  five years for Blackpool's tourism industry to fully recover from the impact of Covid-19.

 

The resorts head of tourism Philip Welsh is concerned about the rising numbers heading to the beach over the next couple of months. Despite an impending restriction lift people still need to be careful and not be too complacent.

 

Blackpool reopened cautiously last summer, following it’s tourism body Visit Blackpool re-branded as Do Not Visit Blackpool to discourage visitors when lockdown restrictions were eased in May 2020. 

 

Mr Welsh revealed that litter was an issue because people came in droves and they could only utilize the area by having a picnic or purchasing a takeaway and sit on a beach. As way of reducing litter debris this year it would be advisable to provide people with bin bags to persuade them to dispose of their litter rather than leaving it. 

 

Blackpool Council said they would take advantage of in demand UK holidays this year but it would suffer in summer 2022 when a rise in holidays abroad could resurface which could result in “dent domestic tourism”. 

 

In the meantime attractions locally are expected to resume play once restrictions are lifted and COVID marshalls will patrol the area to keep visitors safe. 

 

The Blackpool Illuminations will increase to two more months as the year progresses in a bid to welcome more visitors to the popular tourist attraction. It will run this year from 3rd September - 3rd January 2022. 

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger