Blackpool Case Study

Reasons for its growth as a tourist destination:

• Blackpool developed as a tourist destination primarily because it was situated on the coast and was also close to large cities such as Manchester and Liverpool.
• Around the mid-18th century it became fashionable in England to travel to the coast during the summer to bathe in sea water as it was thought to provide health benefits. 
• Stagecoaches began running to Blackpool from Manchester after a private road was built to the town. This meant Blackpool was easier to access than a lot of other coastal locations. 
• Around 1840 following the construction of a railway branch line to the town from Preston, Henry banks and his son in law John Cocker erected new buildings in Blackpool. 
• Starting in the 1850's Lancashire cotton mill owners in Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham would annually close their factories for a week to service machinery - and workers would go to Blackpool, a practice which became known as wakes week.
• The railway made it much easier and cheaper for visitors to reach Blackpool from the booming industrialised regions, triggering an influx of settlers. 

Strategies to cope with the impact of large numbers or tourists:

The huge numbers of people now coming to Blackpool provided the impetus for local business people and the municipal authorities to continue to improve recreational facilities. 

During this time the town was transformed by the construction of a Promenade in 1856, severe piers in the 1860's, the iconic tower in 1894 and the world famous pleasure beach amusement park in 1897. The town also pioneered the use of electric power in 1879 and was the first to have electric street lighting which ultimately developed into the famous illuminations. 

The strategies put in place were very effective to cope with the increased number of visitors. This included the construction of a second railway station in the town, several piers, a substantial increase in the number of guest houses and the development of holiday parks. Also a lot of thought was given to what people would do and many theatres, a zoo, winter gardens and opera house were provided. However, several factors unrelated to Blackpool itself led to a reduction in visitor numbers by the 1960's. Both the decline of the Lancashire textile industry and the rise of package holidays took many of blackpolls traditional visitors abroad, where the weather was more reliably warm and dry. Improved road communications such as the construction of the M55 motorway in 1975 made Blackpool more attractive as a day trip rather than a long holiday destination. 

Attempts to rejuvenate:

• Acquisition of the Winter Gardens complex, The Blackpool tower complex and Louis Tussaud's Waxworks by Blackpool council and £10 million redevelopment programme. 
• A Brand new tourist Information centre, cutting edge wedding venue and beach cafe' restaurant. 
• A remodelled seafront with expanded promenades, compromising of a series of sculpted spaces with 'spanish steps' improving beach access. 
• Upgrade of Blackpool's Tramway - new tram fleet.
• In 1975 Blackpool was linked to the motorway by the M55 to the M6 and the rest of the UK network 
• The airport has expanded and people travel abroad and arrive in the region. In 1995 a new £2 million terminal building was declared open and in 2006 a £2 million refurbishment of the passenger terminal.
• Blackpool also hosts major conferences including those of the main political parties and trade unions. The conferences create jobs and bring important income into Blackpool's hotels, bed and breakfasts and other businesses, which extends outside the summer season.