IN TEN to 20 years, tourism will be the key industry for the North West, says Liverpool City Council’s tourism executive member.
“For Liverpool and the city region, the vital economic tourism driver will be the cruise liner and related maritime industries,” said Cllr Gary Millar, responsible for tourism and regeneration.
News that Peel Ports wants to temporarily transfer its Langton Dock turnaround cruises to the Pier Head’s Liverpool Cruise Terminal was warmly welcomed by him
“If properly developed, this success will feed into the hotels, bars, restaurants and transport.
“More people are realising a cruise is one of the best, safest and most relaxing holidays around.
“As a city port, Liverpool is ideally placed for this fast-growing market.
“New York and Majorca offer cruise and stay holidays, so can we. ”
Traditional UK industry has shrunk and the new knowledge economy will be huge, but nothing will match tourism, he believes: “Capital of Culture was a wonderful impetus and change for the hospitality industry,” said Cllr Millar.
“A year later, and in the midst of a recession, we’ve seen only a 2% reduction in hotel bookings.
“This is while a lot more beds have come on stream in the city.
“Since 2008, the national press have been much kinder to us and changed their views dramatically.
“This feeds into local perceptions of confidence levels which council research showed rose to 95% in 2008.
“It is still at 89%, compared to 30-70% some years ago.”
Liverpool has been rated twice in the top three UK city break destinations by the influential Condé Nast Traveller magazine’s readers.
“But I don’t know how long this can continue,” warned Cllr Millar.
“We need a flow of events, festivals and one-off occasions to keep ahead.
“Liverpool One has put us in the UK’s top five retail cities.
“Many visitors have not woken up to the fact of our World Heritage Site. Once the waterfront building work is completed, we’ll work up another audience who want to see it.
“People forget WHS stretches across the city in six zones to William Brown Street.
“Being a gadget man, I’m looking at how we can harness new technology to impart information to tourists on walking tours.
“WHS logo plaques with RFID transmitters could be activated and talk to mobile phones as you pass.
“Heritage maps can be beamed from sat navs detailing our 1,678 listed buildings and 2,500 statues. These are the hidden gems of the city.
“Much more could be done in feeding people from one attraction to another.
