Tourism works for Blackpool. We need to back it.
Blackpool’s always been a place that welcomes people. We’ve done it for generations. Families from across the country have made memories here. But tourism isn’t just about holidays. It’s about jobs, pride and building a better future for our town.
New national research proves what we already know in Blackpool. Tourism isn’t just for visitors. It helps communities too. The VisitEngland Social Value of Tourism report shows that places like Blackpool benefit in ways you can see and feel.
People in ‘host communities’ report higher levels of local pride, stronger social ties and more access to culture. The report even found these areas score higher on something called the “Resident Empowerment Index”. That means that when people are proud of where they live, they’re more likely to stick up for it. I see that in Blackpool every day.
When tourism works here, it means more than just money. It keeps our shops open. It fills our restaurants. It supports thousands of jobs. And it brings life to our streets.
In 2023, over 21.5 million people visited Blackpool, bringing in more than £1.7 billion to our local economy. That supported more than 22,000 jobs. But the benefits go deeper. Young people are skilled up through our tourism industry and access work that goes beyond seasonal work.
Tourism helps people build lives, gain confidence and feel part of something. This’s why I’m proud to chair the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospitality and Tourism. It means I can take Blackpool’s story into Parliament and out to industry and fight for better support.
Because rising costs, business rates and national insurance hikes are making it harder to grow. That needs to change. Tourism is one of the UK’s biggest industries and it deserves proper backing.
In Blackpool we’ve turned a seasonal resort into a year-round destination. From the International Dance Festival in spring to Christmas by the Sea in the middle of winter, we’re showing what’s possible when local people lead the way.
Blackpool Council has also launched One Blackpool – a plan to bring the whole visitor economy together and make Blackpool a model for how tourism can lift people up, not leave them behind.
Tourism isn’t a distraction or a reason local people get less. It’s a serious tool to rebuild places like ours. That’s why I’ll keep standing up for Blackpool’s visitor economy – in Parliament and everywhere else. Because when our town thrives, our communities do too.
