Report demolishes myths about demise of British seaside tourist industry

I heard Prof. Steve Fothergill speak at the Coastal Communities Handbook Launch at the Wintergardens back in January. The report is available for download at the end of this post.

Issued 28/06/10

A major new report released today (Monday) finds that the seaside tourist industry in England and Wales remains a substantial and growing employer.

The Seaside Tourist Industry in England and Wales, by a team at Sheffield Hallam University, explodes the popular myth that the increase in the numbers of foreign holidays has destroyed the economy of Britain's own seaside towns.

In fact, the British seaside tourist industry continues to employ as many people as the whole of the telecommunications sector, and more than the motor industry, the aerospace industry, pharmaceuticals or steel.

The report uses novel methods to disentangle the jobs supported by tourism - in shops, hotels, bars and restaurants for example - from those supported by local consumer spending. It finds that:

The seaside tourist industry in England and Wales directly supports some 210,000 jobs spread across more than 100 resorts. Large numbers of additional jobs are also supported indirectly through the supply chain.

The Blackpool area has the largest single concentration of seaside tourist jobs - more than 19,000

No fewer than 58 individual towns each have at least 1,000 jobs in seaside tourism

Since the late 1990s employment in the seaside tourist industry has actually increased by about one per cent a year - an overall growth of 20,000 jobs

The estimated value to the economy of the jobs in seaside tourism is around £3,600 million.

The report provides local figures on seaside tourism employment for 121 individual resorts around the coast.

Professor Steve Fothergill, from Sheffield Hallam's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), who led the team, said: "That a large seaside tourist industry has survived and adapted is good news, not just for seaside towns but for the British economy as a whole.

"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."

The report can be obtained on the CRESR website at www.shu.ac.uk/cresr The Seaside Tourist Industry in England and Wales: Employment, economic output, location and trends is by Christina Beatty, Steve Fothergill, Tony Gore and Ian Wilson from Sheffield Hallam University. It was co-financed by the British Resorts and Destinations Association, North West Development Agency, South East of England Development Agency and Visit Wales (Welsh Assembly Government).

For press information contact: contact Laurie Harvey in the Sheffield Hallam University press office on (0114) 225 2621, email laurie.harvey@shu.ac.uk

cresr-seaside-tourism-report.pdf (2.28MB)

Press Release - TDC's press after the Coastal Regeneration Handbook Launch

After last week's Coastal Community Conference, TDC released a press release. It does seem to play down TDC's role in putting forward some of the conference content. The Thanet Success Story at least was surely put together by Thanet?

Praise for Margate after conference

Margate has been described as a great venue by those attending a national conference in the town, with many pledging to return in the future.

The two-day event, organised by the Coastal Communities Alliance (CCA), called for greater recognition at a national level of the issues facing seaside resorts around the country. It brought together policy makers and practitioners in seaside regeneration.

A new publication ‘Coastal Regeneration in England 2010’ and website were also launched at the conference. They aim to stimulate new thinking about local solutions and clarify “who’s who” and “who’s doing what” in coastal regeneration.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: “We were very proud to see Margate hosting this conference and I was delighted with the feedback that I got from delegates. Many of them were talking about coming back to Margate in the future and they were full of praise for the work that’s going on down here. There was a lot of talk about our regeneration plans and we were able to show them exactly what we are doing here, with Turner Contemporary underway and the changes in the Old Town. It would be great to welcome them back again in the future, so that they can see the difference in Margate when they return here. I think, from talking to various people, including some of the organisers of the conference, that’s something they’d be very keen to do. They were certainly talking about wanting to return to Margate for more conferences, which is very encouraging.”

The keynote speech at the conference came from Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, which led an influential review into the problems facing seaside resorts. She told the conference that the coast has a great deal to offer the country and spoke about the importance of ensuring that different organisations in seaside areas work together and aim for the same result.

Other speeches were made by Mark Simmonds, MP for Boston and Skegness, and Dr. Stephen Ladyman, MP for South Thanet.

The Coastal Communities Alliance is a UK-wide umbrella group, made up of more than 100 organisations and local authorities, with Lincolnshire County Council as the Secretariat. It was started in 2007, after the Government’s initial rejection of the recommendations from the Select Committee Inquiry into Coastal Towns.

Coastal Handbook In the Press

The Coastal Regeneration Handbook launch in Margate makes Kent Online.

"Thanet council plans to use the event to showcase local success stories, with delegates offered a tour of key regeneration sites including the Turner Contemporary, Westwood Cross and the Port of Ramsgate."

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet_extra/news/2010/january/21/coastal_conference.aspx

Coastal Regeneration Handbook Launch Details

In case anyone hasn't downloaded the flyer for the launch event of the Coastal Regeneration Handbook Launch (previously referred to as the Coastal Community Handbook Launch on this blog).

Below is the text from the flyer. The event is £75 for two days and £40 for the one.

Here's what what the flyer says:

Keynote speaker
Dr Phyllis Starkey MP
Chair of the Select Committee
enquiry into Coastal Towns 2007
Presentations and Q & A
on coastal regeneration by the main political parties
Presentations and Q & A
on coastal futures, enterprise and health
Leaders, CXO, practitioners
on coastal futures and coastal solutions

" An opportunity for all those concerned about the future of our seaside resorts to contribute to
the national debate on new approaches to Coastal Regeneration while taking a first hand look at the approaches and success stories, in Thanet."

Dear Delegate,
We are pleased to announce the Coastal Alliance Conference on 27 and 28 January 2010 when Dr Phyllis Starkey MP will attend as keynote speaker for the national launch of the much awaited Coastal Regeneration Handbook and website.

Conference Objectives
Nationally launch the handbook and website

Consolidate the considerable evidence on coastal resort issues

Establish national coastal regeneration topic groups

Establish post launch events for enterprise, planning and health

Media coverage for coastal resort issues

Delegates Can Expect
The launch of the first Coastal regeneration Handbook and the related Website

An update on national coastal regeneration developments by Dr Starkey

The views on coastal resort regeneration by the three main political parties

A full debate on the future of coastal regeneration

Help form national coastal regeneration topic groups

To help consolidate the CCA

The Coastal Communities Alliance
The CCA is a virtual group of coastal local authorities and organisations that came into being in 2007 in response to the Government’s initial rejection of the recommendations of the Select
Committee Inquiry into Coastal Towns.

The CCA objectives are to articulate, lobby and promote new thinking and solutions for the complex socio - economic problems existing in coastal areas.

The “Coastal Regeneration Handbook ...work in progress!” is part of that process
and, like coastal regeneration, has been produced on a shoestring!

The Coastal Regeneration Handbook
The primary objective of the Coastal Regeneration Handbook is to reduce deprivation and improve the quality of life in coastal resorts by increasing the effectiveness of coastal regeneration practitioners. The handbook will seek to achieve this by:

• Stimulating new thinking and approaches for the development of local solutions
to entrenched coastal resort problems.

• Clarifying “who’s who” and “who’s doing what” in coastal regeneration.

• Improving the knowledge, effectiveness and cooperation of coastal regeneration practitioners and the national, regional and local organisations that support the development of coastal communities.

Conference Programme
Wednesday 27 January
1.00pm Delegates Assemble Winter Gardens,
Seaside Bar (Parking available on lower
promenade – 5 mins taxi from Railway Station)
Registration
Buffet lunch
2.15pm Tour
(Delegates to pre-book their choice of tour)
a) Entertainment Past, Present and Future.
Cultural regeneration in Margate
b) Economic Regeneration in Thanet,
industrial estates, shopping developments,
port, airport, university.
4.00pm Delegates return Walpole Bay Hotel, Cliftonville
Afternoon Tea
7.00pm Reception: Networking & opportunity
to ‘meet the authors’
7.30pm Dinner (Venue to be confirmed)
Welcome by Richard Samuel (Chief Executive,
TCD) and Ivan Annibal (CCA)
Response Professor John Walton,
(Co-Editor Coastal Regeneration Handbook)
9.45 pm Close

Thursday 28 January
9.00am Coffee/pastries and registration:
Margate Winter Gardens
9.30am Welcome by Conference Chairman
Richard Samuel, (Chief Executive TDC)
and Ivan Annibal (CCA)
09.45 am Keynote speech Dr Phyllis Starkey M.P
Q and A to Dr Starkey MP
10.15am Presentation x Conservative MP
10.30am Presentation x Labour MP
10.45am Presentation x Lib Dem MP
11.00am Q and A to the three MPs
11.15 am Coffee and biscuits
11.45am Plenary.
Review of handbook and website, creation
of topic groups, CCA structure and
resourcing, Q & A session.
12.30pm Break for lunch.
+ Opportunity to visit exhibitions
1.30pm Presentation and Q & A
Coastal Health - a spa too far? Kent PCT
2.00pm Presentation
Can the resort be enterprised?
CCA and Wood Holmes Group
2.15pm Presentation
What future the resort?
CCA and Handbook Contributors
2.30pm Plenary.
3.15pm Closing remarks.

Accommodation
Both of the hotels listed are within walking distance of the Winter Gardens, Margate and
offer a delegate’s rate of £50 single and £60 double occupancy including full breakfast

Smith’s Court Hotel
43 Rooms, Victorian Hotel 3 Star

Walpole Bay Hotel and Museum
41 Rooms, As featured on the Hotel Inspector
To book or to find our more about places
to stay in Thanet Visit www.visitthanet.co.uk
or call 0870 264 6111

Travel
Margate is situated on the southeastern tip of Kent. Excellent road and rail links from London means that getting here is quick and easy, even the continent is just a hop across the Channel, as we are closer to France than our county town of Maidstone.

By Road
Excellent road links with the M20 and M2 motorways close by provide easy links from London and its airports via the M25 orbital motorway. Adequate parking to the rear of the Winter Gardens on the Lower Promenade.

By Rail
There are frequent trains between London Victoria and Margate as well as Charing
Cross, and Ramsgate. Journey times are approximately 1 hour 50 minutes (Victoria) and 2 hours (Charing Cross).

National Rail enquiries
Tel: +44 (0) 8457 48 49 50
Tel: +44 (0) 845 000 2211
(impaired access information)
Textphone +44 (0) 845 605 0600
www.nationalrail.co.uk

Booking Details
Reservation forms and payment must be received by: 12 January 2010 latest.
An earlier call indicating your intentions
to 01843 577638 or 577167 or e-mail
to wendy.morris@thanet.gov.uk or
gillian.shepherd@thanet.gov.uk
would be very much appreciated.
Two day conference fee - £75.00.
(10% Reduction on bookings for two or
more delegates from the same organisation)
One day only fee - £40.00
(no discounts apply)
Please return your reservation form with
your cheque made payable to Thanet
District Council at the address shown on
the reservation form or call us on 01843
577638 to pay by credit or debit card.

Coastal Handbook Launch Event Flyer Released

Hot of the press from TDC's Events, Leisure, Culture and Tourism Department. The flier is available to download from the Coastal Communities Alliance website:
http://www.coastalcommunities.co.uk/news/coastal-handbook-launch-18.htm

The event will take place at The Winter Gardens on the 27th of January and will be chaired by the Chair of the Select Committee enquiry into coastal towns, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP.

There will be a series of talks and tours. The flier states the day will be:

"An opportunity for all those concerned about the future of our seaside resorts to contribute to the national debate on new approaches to Coastal Regeneration while taking a first hand look at the approaches and success stories in Thanet."

It goes on to say:

"Dear Delegate,

We are pleased to announce the Coastal Alliance Conference on 27 and 28 January 2010 when Dr Phyllis Starkey MP will attend as keynote speaker for the national launch of the much awaited Coastal Regeneration Handbook and website."

The two tours on offer to delegates are:

1. Entertainment, past, present and future. Cultural regeneration in Margate.
2. Economic regeneration in Thanet, industrial estates, shopping developments, port, airport, university.

Any mention of tourism for economic regeneration?

So far typing 'Coastal Handbook' into Thanet's wesbiste comes up with nothing. TDC haven't publicised the event in Thanet that they have put together and are hosting.

Speaking to the Coastal Community Alliance today, they confirmed that the cost of attending is £75 for two days and £40 for one day. There are no discounts, but that individual authorities are funding indivuals and groups to attend. We will contact TDC to enquire if this is going to be offered in some way to people or groups in Thanet wishing to participate. We'll also feedback on who are the success stories that will be put before delegates and how they were chosen.

Launch of the first Coastal Handbook in Margate

"The IDeA, through its economic development and healthy community’s programmes are supporting the Coastal Communities Alliance (CCA) in producing the first Coastal Regeneration Handbook. The handbook will be launched in Margate on Thursday 28 January 2010 by Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, who chaired the Select Committee Inquiry into Coastal Towns."

The website goes on to say they're welcoming contributions from the public:

"The CCA would welcome your presence, and contributions, at an event that seeks to stimulate new debates and directions in addressing the socio-economic problems and the public costs of our seaside resorts. We would appreciate if you could advise of your early availability, in order to inform the programme, to Nicola.precious@Lincolnshire.gov.uk or 07500 992115. The details of the full launch programme will be distributed in December."


Margate seems to be lacking in a communication network to publicise these events.

The event will take place at the Winter Gardens. The press release is online here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19832982/Aug-2009-A-renaissance-for-the-resorts