Agenda item

To provide information on tourism performance between January and April 2016 using various indicators.

Mr Welsh, Head of Visitor Economy presented a report on tourism performance between January and April 2016 using various indicators including number of visits, footfall, tram usage, satisfaction ratings and events.

He reported to Members that the first four months of the calendar year had been positive, although performance over the Easter holidays had not been to the levels that had been expected, which was attributed to poor weather.

In response to questioning from the Committee regarding the reduction of visitors in the evening compared with during the daytime, Mr Welsh advised that it remained a challenge to encourage visitors to stay for longer, but that it was hoped that the investment in the early evening economy would help to assist with achieving the aim.

Members noted the media’s recent reporting of the Visit England Survey and raised questions regarding the basis that had been used for the resort of Scarborough being placed higher than Blackpool. Mr Welsh advised that the media coverage had focused on the figures for the numbers of leisure tourists staying overnight. He noted that when daytime visitors were taken into account, Blackpool had approximately two million more visits per year than Scarborough.

Members considered that the performance figures were useful and it was requested that the Visitor Economy Performance Indicator report be circulated to Members on a monthly basis.

The Committee raised questions relating to the former King Edward Cinema and its potential future usage. Mr Cavill, Director of Place reported that the site was part of the wider Central Station development site and, as a result, it would be difficult to attract an investor as only a very short term lease would be able to be offered and the building required significant levels of investment. On the subject of the Central Station development site, the Committee questioned whether there was any update regarding the relocation of the County and Magistrates courts to new sites within Blackpool. Mr Cavill advised that negotiations were ongoing with the Ministry of Justice, but that progress on the relocation had been slow.

Members queried the location of the cameras for recording the levels of footfall in the town centre and Councillor Campbell provided Members with a list of the Camera positions, which amongst others included outside Coral Island, Marks and Spencer’s, and the Credit Union on Birley Street.

Members noted the increased usage on the trams and queried the reasons for the increased patronage and whether the trend would continue.  Mr Welsh advised that the performance was partly due to increased numbers on the trams, but was also due in part to the ability to better manage usage. He explained that the ability to manage usage included improved queuing systems and being better equipped to ensure all people using the trams paid for their journeys. Councillor Blackburn also noted that the decision to restrict concessionary fares on trams to Blackpool residents only had resulted in an increased number of fare paying customers on the trams.

The Committee agreed to request that the Visitor Economy Performance Indicator report be circulated to Members on a monthly basis.

Background papers: None.