Blackpool businesses sign up to national mark of confidence

Blackpool’s tourism industry has finally reopened – with around 150 businesses already signed up to a new COVID-Safe industry standard.

Many of the resort’s key attractions – including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, The Blackpool Tower, Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool Piers, Coral Island and Madame Tussauds – put out the welcome mat at the weekend along with hotels, restaurants, bars and amusement centres.

For most, it was the first time they had been able to open the doors to visitors since the pandemic lockdown on March 23.

Over that period, they have been working behind the scenes to remodel their operations and working practices to ensure that people could look forward to a safe and enjoyable experience.

In the last few days before opening, scores of Blackpool’s tourism businesses signed up to VisitEngland’s new “We’re Good To Go” consumer mark to reassure residents and visitors that they are adhering to Government and Public Health guidance.

By the July 4 reopening day, more than 100 hotels and B&Bs had secured the standard, along with key attractions, venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. It means they can now display the distinctive tick logo.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “After months of telling people to stay away, it is a relief to finally be able to invite visitors back to enjoy all that Blackpool has to offer.

“We are very much aware that after months of lockdown, some people might be a little nervous about venturing out to do some of the leisure activities that used to be second nature.

“That is why, as a resort, we have aligned ourselves to a national industry standard and are working with our businesses to make sure as many as possible are displaying the “We’re Good To Go” mark as a show of confidence that they are doing everything required to protect the public.”

To obtain the standard, businesses must show that they have carried out a COVID risk assessment and are adhering to all of the latest Government guidelines and making necessary changes around social distancing, staff training and health and safety.

Measures include:

• Hotels and accommodation providers introducing deep cleaning regimes between guests.
• Meal services including breakfasts to be pre-booked and timed, and shared facilities only accessible to one family group at a time.
• Timed tickets introduced for some indoor attractions to reduce the number of visitors in locations at the same time.
• Introduction of one-way systems, clear floor markings and queue management systems to maintain social distancing measures at all attractions and help to limit contact between both staff and visitors.
• Encouragement of cashless payments throughout to avoid cross contamination.

To help visitors enjoy their resort experience, Blackpool Council has introduced a cashless parking app to avoid queuing at pay machines and opened a brand new toilet block at the southern end of the promenade.

VisitBlackpool has also launched an on-line “Know Before You Go” platform giving comprehensive information on the measures introduced across the resort’s tourism industry to protect the public so that visitors can plan ahead of their visit. This can be viewed at visitblackpool.com

Over the coming weeks, more hotels, B&Bs and other businesses will reopen as Blackpool’s tourism season starts to gather momentum.

And don’t forget that Blackpool has a wealth of open spaces to be enjoyed including six miles of golden sands where visitors can kick off their shoes, paddle in the sea and enjoy extensive strolls along the promenade.  We also have green spaces aplenty to enjoy especially at Stanley Park, voted the UK’s favourite park in 2019.  All we ask of our visitors is to stick to social distancing guidance outdoors and dispose of litter responsibly.

Welcome back!