With the UK’s virus-related death toll surpassing 40,000 and lockdown measures being eased, what does this mean for Britain’s seaside economy?
Due to its high infection rate, Britons’ may face travel restrictions or be forced to self-isolate for 14 days when travelling abroad, as is currently the case in France and Ireland. Whilst day trips to seaside resorts such as Whitby and Scarborough are permitted, holidays and overnight stays are still banned. As the summer holidays approach for many schools, the tourist industry must reopen soon if summer revenue is to be generated.
The UK’s policy requiring oversea arrivals to isolate for 14 days is likely to cause significant losses. Visit Britain estimates a 60% decline in inbound tourism this year, whilst businesses are projected to lose £20bn in revenue. Amongst those areas badly hit will be coastal resorts, places that are already riddled with pockets of deprivation. Will Covid-19 finally expose the failure of the political system to address the economic precariousness of these towns?
Coastal communities have some of the highest unemployment rates in the country, not least because of their reliance on sole markets like tourism. Data collected by the Office for National Statistics found that residents in coastal constituencies earned £1,600 less than those in non-coastal areas in 2018. With a loss of summer tourism, the gap between coastal communities and the rest of the country is set to widen.
Will Covid-19 finally expose the failure of the political system
to address the economic precariousness of these towns?
Blackpool is a town characterised by low wages and a poverty of aspiration. According to the 2019 Multiple Index of Deprivation, Blackpool ranks third for income deprivation and first for employment deprivation in the country. It has a disproportionate number of people struggling with drug addiction and mental health issues, and high crime levels plague the lives of the poor. Yet Visit Blackpool reports that the holiday town attracts 18 million visitors a year. What then is stopping the local economy from flourishing?
With workers in seaside towns being laid off at a faster rate than other areas in Britain, the claim for benefits has soared. Almost 10,000 new claims for benefits were made by Blackpool residents in April alone. Continued growth in tourism is essential to overcoming the towns social and economic problems.
The Grand Theatre, one of Blackpool’s oldest tourist attractions, has lost £250,000 over the past three months by refunding or moving 50,000 bookings. Having survived two world wars, will the threat of the virus be responsible for the closure of the 126-year-old theatre?
Continued growth in tourism is essential to overcoming
the towns social and economic problems.
Should domestic tourism be permitted over the next few months, coastal towns are likely to experience a surge in visitors. Whilst this would undoubtedly benefit the tourism industry, residents fear a spike in infections. This is particularly concerning as over 60s make up a third of the population in coastal towns, according to the 2011 Census. With Covid-19 death rates being higher in deprived areas- and seaside towns being amongst the most deprived communities in the UK- the threat is heightened.
Hastings in East Sussex has closed itself off from tourists in an attempt to keep rates of Covid-19 low, and many towns may decide to follow in its footsteps. Just last month, Visit Blackpool, the council’s tourism body, rebranded itself ‘Do not visit Blackpool’ and urged people to stay local.
Even if the tourist industry is rebooted, social distancing requirements will reduce the capacity of cafes and restaurants and thus hinder their ability to bring in revenue. As people are no longer booking with confidence, many hotels and B&Bs will be empty at a time when business should be thriving.
We are left with the question of whether the effects of the coronavirus will trigger the catastrophic decline of seaside resorts, or whether the summer season will go ahead as lockdown measures are relaxed?
Lily Duffy
Image courtesy of Oli Scarff/ Getty images