Sefton looks to boost visitor economy
A 10-year strategy aimed at growing the borough’s tourism industry is to be mapped out amid a “period of change” for the sector in Sefton.
Sefton Council is seeking a consultancy to draw up a 2025-2035 strategy that will underpin efforts to grow the borough’s visitor economy, which currently generates just shy of £700m a year. In 2023, the borough attracted 7.9m visitors.
Much of Sefton’s visitor economy is concentrated in Southport, which is also at the heart of the council’s efforts to grow the sector.
The Marine Lake Events Centre, which is currently under construction, could attract 500,000 visitors annually and raise £19m for the local economy, according to the council.
Other visitor pulls in Sefton include 22 miles of beaches and the emerging leisure offer in Bootle town centre.
The aim of the strategy is to set a “clear mission with aims and objectives” to grow the sector following consultation with stakeholders.
Tender documents for the opportunity, which comes with a maximum £35,000 fee, state that the visitor economy in Sefton is “going through a period of change while still recovering from the Covid-19 impact and more recently the tragic incident [which resulted in the deaths of three children] in Southport”.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy, and skills, said: “The visitor economy is vital to the Sefton economy. It is an area that has potential for substantial growth and Sefton Council has a strong leadership role to play in maximising the opportunities for that growth.
“We are working on a number of exciting projects with the private sector, supporting an expanded events programme and gathering the evidence to attract further investment in this sector. Initiatives that will help boost the visitor economy include the Council’s own new Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport and Bootle’s Salt and Tar, both are well underway.”
She added: “Sefton needs a 10-year visitor economy strategy and in which we set out a shared plan of intent of how we and our partners will grow and the sector. The Strategy will be developed in consultation with a range of visitor economy stakeholders, will set out a clear mission with aims and objectives.”
Other than some preliminary demolition / enabling is the events centre actually under construction?
By Anonymous
Yes, let’s focus all our economic development efforts on a low-wage sector whilst frustrating the one genuine economic powerhouse – the port – from maximising its efficiency for clients. Genius.
By Anonymous
How’s the Pier doing? Any repairs?
By Drew
What is happening to the pier?
By Christopher Boyle
Is it really 22 miles of beach in Sefton these days? Most of the beach in Southport has gone. It’s been allowed to go to grass and it’s spreading further south each year. I used to live in Marshside in the late 70’s early 80’s and we walked on the beach! How long until there are no beaches in Sefton!
By Liz - Formby
Repair Southport pier.
By Anonymous
If this is a 10 year plan then Sefton Council should be badgering to get the line from Southport to Wigan electrified, then it will be easier to get to Southport from outside the Liverpool City Region without changing trains, these could potentially access Southport direct from Yorkshire, The Midlands, and the South.
Southport rail station is well big enough to accommodate say a 5 coach TPE train.
By Anonymous
£35k for someone else to draw up a 10-year strategy now seems an odd way of going about things when so much money has already been thrown about by Sefton Council, where nobody seems to have any idea what economic development is about, particularly evident with their determination to sabotage the future of the Port of Liverpool.
Instead, they are sticking with the idea that Southport is still a holiday resort that people will travel to, that someone will discover the problem the Build-It-And-They-Will-Come events centre is supposed to be a viable solution to, that day trips to see the squirrels and iron men can be usefully monetised even if the capacity was there, and that Bootle Strand is developing into a tourist attraction.
It’s going to take more than £35k to come up with anything useful, particularly if there is nobody at Sefton capable of delivering.
By End of the Pier
I see there is no mention of Southport pier from Cllr Lappin. It has been closed for far too long and Sefton Council are doing nothing. What a disgrace they are.
By Gareth
Is one of the main attractions ever going to be open again Southport pier ?
By Hope
Partial repairs to the pier where necessary would enable it to re-open, this would be an immediate benefit to residents and visitors alike. Is there really a danger to walkers along the whole stretch of the pier? Visitor numbers to Southport would increase as soon as the pier attraction is made available again.
By Ainsdale resident
No doubt Manchester will approve a 50 storey building on where the beach used to be
By Anonymous
How about a new link road to support the polluting jam packed A5036 just scrapped by Rachel Reeves.
By Eric