Changing Tides
May 15th, 2009 by laurieWith talk of environmental impact, carbon footprints, and the current economic situation, tourism agencies have reported fewer people travelling abroad and a greater interest from UK residents in holidaying in the UK.
This is a real opportunity for seaside towns to undergo a rebirth and rebrand and benefit from increased tourism to their area. The Olymipcs coming to London in 2012 is a chance for such towns to piggy-back on the influx of overseas visitors to London, encouraging them to visit other places in the UK. But how do seaside towns in decline market themselves as attractive holiday destinations?
Part of Scarborough’s transformation actually looked at reducing its economic dependence on the tourism industry, focusing instead on kick-starting business start-ups and introducing free wifi internet access along the coast. Nick Taylor, project manager of Scarborough’s renaissance commented that ‘Scarborough isn’t just a seaside town; more a town by the sea, with a much wider economic base.’
But Scarborough hasn’t forgotten its roots and continues to prosper from its coastal location. The physical regeneration of the harbourside, the re-development of the Rotunda Museum and hosting Coastival – a large-scale arts festival – has increased visitor numbers and fundamentally changed the way the town is viewed by visitors and residents alike.
Perhaps Scarborough’s ability to look to the future without losing sight of the past making it an attractive place to live, work and visit, played a part in Scarborough being named the most enterprising place in the UK and most recently the most enterprising place in Europe.
Adrian Riley, a Scarborough businessman commented that such accolades allow Scarborough to go out to the rest of the world and say ‘have you been to Scarborough lately? Because it’s probably a very different place to what you think it is!’
I think that’s an invitation to you all…
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