Public meeting called to discuss potential for post lockdown tourism boom in Morecambe

An online public meeting has been called by Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party on Friday June 5 which hopes to gain public views and understand Morecambe’s future in a world after coronavirus.

With international travel set to remain problematic and costly there are signs that domestic tourism is going to boom when the Covid-19 lockdown is finally eased.

The meeting hopes to discuss what this will this look like for Morecambe, and what the town can do to seize this opportunity to ensure that it is a visitor destination of choice.

Phillip Blundell, chair of Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party, said: “This is a difficult time for many local businesses and families who depend on tourism for their income.

"Coronavirus has caused hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions to close.

"People are worried about the future and we want to do what we can to support them.

"That is why we called this meeting, to bring businesses and people who care about Morecambe together.”

Speakers at the event will include Dr David Jarrat, UCLan lecturer in Tourism & Events, Loz Kaye, a well-known festival organiser and artistic director at More Music in Morecambe; and Cllr Jean Parr, the Lancaster City Council cabinet member for Arts, Culture, Leisure and Tourism.

Together they will look to the future of domestic tourism and explore the possibilities of what Morecambe can offer to that market.

One of the event organisers, Lancaster City Coun Phillip Black, will host the meeting which will be held online as a Zoom video conference.

He said: “In some ways it is easier to look 12 months ahead than it is to look 12 weeks ahead.

"I think we can expect that the traditional seaside holiday is set to make a comeback.

"It’s crucial that we as a community work together now to craft an offer for tourists in the post-Covid19 world in a way that really allows Morecambe shine out as a natural visitor destination of choice.”

To join the meeting, which is open to all members of the public, it is necessary to register on the event page at https://events.labour.org.uk/event/321856.