More holidays abroad have not destroyed the British tourist industry, claims new report

9th July 2010, 10:49am

The study, entitled The Seaside Tourist Industry in England and Wales and conducted by a team at Sheffield Hallam University, has shown that the British seaside tourist industry remains a substantial and growing employer.

According to the findings, it still employs as many people as the whole of the telecommunications sector and more than the motor industry, aerospace industry, pharmaceuticals or steel.

The report has used a method to differentiate the jobs supported by tourism – in shops, bars, restaurants and hotels for example - from those supported by local consumer spending. It provides local figures on seaside tourism employment for 121 individual resorts around the coast.

Among the findings, the report has found that no fewer than 58 individual towns each have at least 1,000 jobs in seaside tourism, that the estimated value to the economy of the jobs in seaside tourism is around £3,6000 million and that Blackpool has the single concentration of seaside tourist jobs – more than £19,000.

Professor Steve Fothergill, from Sheffield Hallam's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), who led the team, said: "Leisure and tourism is a growing market. What our figures show is that even in the face of stiff competition from holidays abroad, Britain's seaside towns have been able to retain and even expand much of their core business.

"The British seaside tourist industry remains a major employer. The new government should make every effort to ensure that the industry delivers its full potential in the coming years."

Peter Hampson, director of the British Resorts and Destinations Association, said: "People who follow the fortunes of the British seaside tourist industry have always known it is a myth that the industry is in terminal decline, but we have not had the comprehensive and convincing evidence to prove otherwise until now.

"Britain's seaside resorts face challenges in responding to changing economic circumstances and consumer tastes, but what the Sheffield Hallam report tells us is that in many places around the coast the seaside tourist industry is still alive and well - and growing. The seaside tourist industry has been written off too often. This report highlights its resilience."

Related Articles:

• 12 Aug 2010 - David Cameron urges the tourism industry to work harder
• 29 Jun 2010 - BHA awards commend outstanding service to the tourism and hospitality industry
• 29 Jun 2010 - Tourism industry must show the government its full potential, says BHA
• 17 Jun 2010 - VisitBritain launches new website to entice tourists
• 03 Jun 2010 - BHA looks to coalition government to take tourism seriously
• 14 Apr 2010 - SEASIDE RESTAURANTS CAN NOW SAY GOODBYE TO SEAGULL PESTS
• 31 Jul 2009 - Sheffield food awards announced
• 24 Jul 2009 - Food and drink skills summit to be held in Sheffield
• 20 May 2008 - Sheffield Hallam professor earns audience with Queen

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