the journey begins. While the traditional areas of Lancashire, Yorkshire and
Scotland provide the bulk of the visitors, strenuous efforts are now being
made to attract foreign visitors, to whom the fine shopping centre is a
major attraction.
The traveller then passes to the transit route. This is “an intermediate zone
where the principal travel activity of tourism occurs, distinct from visit
activity in destinations” (Leiper, 1995). It can be said that an efficient
transit route is a path where access is easy for large numbers of travellers.
In relation to Blackpool, it is considered to have good transit routes. It has
an airport which is only 2½ miles from the town centre, so has connections
with foreign countries, i.e. daily scheduled flights to and from the Isle of
Man, Dublin and Belfast also direct links with Jersey, Tenerife, Majorca
and Alicante which are also popular holiday destinations among English
holiday makers.
Mainly for day trips or long weekend breaks as its infrastructure is very
modernised, as it has a large number of easily accessible hotels and B&B’s
on the promenade, which is the most popular part of the region. Blackpool
being located at the heart of North West England gives immediate access to
the M55 motorway which provides sustainable routes for all traveller
generating regions in the UK, most North Western towns and cities, also
statistics show that some Scottish towns and cities provide a substantial
number of the visitors to Blackpool. Overseas marketing of Blackpool
should be continued, building on the business generated in the Irish
market (which is Britain’s fourth largest overseas market). International
tourism to Britain is expected to grow in further years. Factors making
Blackpool more accessible to overseas visitors are the Channel Tunnel and
related rail links direct to the North West. In conclusion Blackpool needs to make a
more direct approach to attract international visitors to be able to sustain its tourism
industry.
Leiper’s basic tourist system discusses some of the important factors which
influence it, it can be said that the size of a population of the traveller
generating region play an important role in the efficiency of the tourist
system. Also, just as importantly, the gross economic prosperity of the region and the
distribution of income and wealth of the tourists. The three main factors according to
Leipers’s tourist system are ‘spare time, income and motivations’. Butler, 1991, also
agreed with this theory “time, affluence and freedom of movement are necessary
predisposing circumstances for tourism to take place”.
Butler also claimed that climate also played a role in tourism; however, it proves
that other factors are more influencing in the industry in Blackpool as it can be said that
British holidaymakers are known to want to go on holiday to a destination with a much
warmer climate than their own and as this region doesn’t have the all year round
beautiful climate, like any other British seaside resort, tourists travelling to Blackpool
must have some other attraction to the resort as shown by statistics generated by recent
surveys that there are over 17 million visitors each year. A number of socio-economic
factors affecting British society will also impact on the development of the industry in
Blackpool. Consumers have higher expectations and demand higher quality and choice
nowadays. There are changing fashions and particularly lifestyles, which can radically
affect people's choices for leisure and tourism activities, for example 'green' or 'healthy'
lifestyles.
Travellers can find out the relevant info about Blackpool before they visit on Blackpool’s
very own official website with everything on it from the attractions there is to a little
about the local history and culture there. So Blackpool has its own way of promoting its
tourism online so it is available to everyone internationally and locally.
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The third part of Leiper’s basic whole tourist system is the tourist destination routes.
These are places where a person chooses to stay a while in order to experience some
feature or characteristic of that destination.
Each TDR becomes popular among tourists for all different reasons. Whether that be
the climate, accessibility, security or the attractions it has on offer to that particular
tourist.
In that sense Blackpool is a good example of a destination for a range of different age
groups. Just to mention a few; there is the sandcastle, this an indoor swimming complex
for all ages but mainly focuses in on the younger generation. This is very similar to the
popular Suncentre in Rhyl. Also, the biggest single tourist attraction with Europe’s
biggest roller coaster (Pepsi Max Big 1), the Pleasure Beach draws over 6 million tourists
each year. This also is aimed at younger people and is very popular among the day
trippers who travel there especially for the fantastic attraction. However, for the older
crowd there is also plenty to do. There is an award winning horticultural and wildlife
treasure and the world famous Louis Tussaud’s waxworks. On a historical note the
Blackpool tower is also an attraction admired by all, with something going on for
everyone inside.
So, to conclude, Blackpool’s main source of income is through their tourism and so
in future years this needs to be sustained in order to fulfil its full potential. In my
opinion, I would say that Blackpool will become more popular among foreigners and
much like other popular British cities it will develop its own international culture.
For example; Liverpool and Bradford both have their own way of attracting
foreigners and Liverpool has received the Capital of Culture award which is an
achievement in itself.
