More overnight stays as visitors happier

Visitors to Blackpool are staying longer and are happier with their holiday, according to new figures released today.

The latest Omnibus survey for the first four months of the year shows over two million adults visiting the resort between January and April.

While the overall total of visits is roughly in line with 2015, there has been a dramatic increase in the ratio of staying visitors. Over 50% of those 2m-plus visits included an overnight stay, up from 36% last year – the highest proportion of overnight stays since 2011.

Visitor satisfaction ratings with the resort increased too, with 87% of visitors saying that they enjoyed their stay in the town – up from 79% over the same period last year.

Early indicators also show businesses enjoying a bumper month for trading in May, particularly during the school half term holidays, making up for the wet Easter holidays.

Sales of the popular Blackpool Resort Pass also jumped, with over 2,000 sold between January and April, while the number of unique visitors to the Visit Blackpool website broke records again, with 339,000 people visiting the site in the first four months of the year.

Inbound rail passengers to the resort also increased by 10% while the number of tram passengers soared to over one million between January and April.

Visitors surveyed cited the town’s coastal location and the Pleasure Beach theme park as their two top reasons for visiting the resort in spring.

Today’s figures are a huge boost for the resort, with more overnight stays adding a boost to the local economy, creating and supporting jobs throughout the town.

In total, visitors to Blackpool contribute £1.33bn to the local economy, supporting around 24,000 local jobs.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is a great start to the year for our visitor figures.

“More visitors to the town means more money being spent in our local shops, attractions and hotels – all of which helps to create and support jobs for local people.

“We’ve made huge improvements to Blackpool as a visitor destination over the last few years, with big enhancements to the Tower and promenade, top quality shows performing at the Winter Gardens, world-class family attractions and our first ever Blue Flag beach – Blackpool really does have it all!

“With more top shows and family events taking place this summer, including Dirty Dancing and The Sound of Music, as well as the free Blackpool Air Show in August and the Illuminations and Fireworks Championships later in the year, there are lots of reasons for people to join the trend and come to visit Blackpool this year.”

For more details on events in Blackpool this year, or to book your stay, go to www.visitblackpool.com