Blackpool’s Illuminations are now being relied upon to save the UK town’s hospitality industry after a poor summer.
The cost of living crisis, bad weather and the stay-at-home effect of the Olympics are being blamed for a lacklustre performance this year, say tourism chiefs.
Lyn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, is quoted by BBC News as saying: “People want value for money during this crisis, nothing cheap, but value - and they get this in Blackpool.” So the free-to-view lights will pull tourists back into the town for a last fling in 2024.
The Illuminations will again have an extended run this year, lighting up through to the first week of January - a move started after the pandemic. Councillor Williams said that the extension of the lights had turned Blackpool into a "year-round resort."
The lights were switched on two weeks ago by Spice Girl Mel B and the World Fireworks Championship last weekend increased the number of visitors still more.
The summer report from businesses in the town was that June turned into a washout and the wet weather depressed footfall for most of the rest of the summer.
