SBC News Bacta launches campaign to 're-energise British seaside communities'

Bacta launches campaign to ‘re-energise British seaside communities’

SBC News Bacta launches campaign to 're-energise British seaside communities'
John White – BACTA

Bacta, the trade association for the UK amusement/arcade sector, has launched its ‘Siding with the Seaside’ campaign to ‘re-energise Britain’s coastal communities, who in recent years have faced increasingly challenging economic conditions’.

The campaign sees Bacta champion coastal communities, by driving greater awareness of the unique business and economic challenges faced by British coastal towns.

Bacta governance highlights that at present ‘Britain’s coastal communities are comparatively more deprived and on average underperform economically when compared to inland areas’.

Launching ‘Siding with the Seaside’, Bacta governance urges the UK government to prioritise the renewal and development of seaside towns, highlighting six areas where investment and resources are desperately needed:

  • Prioritising the regeneration of seaside towns
  • The introduction of local based development programmes
  • Investment in transport and connectivity
  • Addressing car parking charges
  • Reducing tax burdens for amusements to preserve historical and traditional landscapes
  • Government to rapidly approve the Tourism Sector Deal presented to the government in November 2018

To safeguard the future of seaside tourism and ensure the Siding with Seaside campaign initiatives are a priority, Bacta will be touring seaside towns and meeting local MPs to fast-track support from the government.

John White, CEO at Bacta, said: The British seaside continues to be a magnet for tourism and an economic engine for coastal communities. The hospitality industry, of which we are part of, employs 1 in 10 people in coastal towns and is responsible for 250 million annual visits, contributing £1.7bn to the economy. Brighton Pier attracts an estimated 4.6 million visitors a year, more than the Tower of London or the V&A.

Seaside amusements are a quintessential part of British culture dating back to before WWI and this campaign is about preserving Britain’s history of seaside fun for future generations to enjoy. Seaside Family Entertainment Centres (FECs) are an important part of coastal communities, providing essential income for families, but also preserving our heritage.”

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