Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock has hailed Blackpool as “open for business and full of ambition”, highlighting the town’s booming visitor economy and its importance to jobs, investment and regeneration.
During a visit to Blackpool with Labour MP Chris Webb, Peacock pointed to the strength of the resort’s tourism sector, which welcomed 23.2 million visitors in 2024, up 7.7% on the previous year. Tourism supports more than 23,000 full-time jobs in the town and generated around £2.15 billion in visitor and tourism business spending.
Writing on X, Peacock said:
“Blackpool is open for business & full of ambition. Over 23 million visitors & more than 23,000 jobs supported by tourism, driving investment, opportunity & regeneration across the town.”
She added that it had been “great” to visit with Webb and speak to the local media about Blackpool’s future.
The visit saw Peacock and Webb meet local tourism leaders, including representatives from Blackpool Tourism Ltd, and visit major attractions including the Winter Gardens and Pleasure Beach.
Peacock said Blackpool’s visitor economy showed how tourism can act as a powerful driver of growth in coastal communities.
She said the millions of people visiting the town every year support local businesses, sustain thousands of jobs and demonstrate the importance of tourism to regeneration and economic opportunity.
Labour backing Blackpool’s visitor economy
Webb, the Labour MP for Blackpool South and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tourism and Hospitality, welcomed Peacock’s visit and said he had been consistently making the case for further recognition and investment in the town.
He said Blackpool remained “the beating heart of British seaside tourism” and deserved continued support from government.
The visit comes as Labour seeks to grow Britain’s visitor economy nationwide. The Government has set an ambition to attract 50 million international visitors a year by 2030, supported by a forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy aimed at increasing visitor numbers and spreading economic benefits across the country.
Tourism already supports around 2.4 million jobs across the UK and contributed an estimated £147 billion to the economy in 2024. Its economic value is forecast to reach £161 billion annually by 2030, potentially supporting a further 175,000 jobs.
The Government has also announced a review of the way business rates are calculated for pubs and hotels and is investing £3.38 million through the Connected Destinations Fund to strengthen visitor experiences and sustainable tourism across England.
Peacock’s message from Blackpool was clear: supporting tourism means backing local businesses, creating jobs and bringing fresh investment into communities.
For Labour, Blackpool’s success provides an example of how a growing visitor economy can play a central role in delivering regeneration and opportunity in Britain’s coastal towns.
