British government to invest in coastal tourism

The coastal resorts of England are due for a facelift, and the British government has said it is committed to invest £45 million to improve cities like Dover, Torbay and Blackpool over the next three years. The three towns will receive £4 million each this year in order to improve infrastructure and create cultural projects. The three cities were identified as areas most in need of funding by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. Private sector investment is expected to match the government figures.

Many Britons consider their seaside towns to be an important part of their national identity, and director of Torbay tourism Aviva Pearson said bookings for this year were up from last year. She acknowledges money is needed to revitalize the city. She says, “We’re very grateful for every pound,” she said. “The area is faded and needs a big, fat cash injection. We’ve prospered because we give people a reason to come back here by staging events such as the first international comedy film festival, but we also need to spend money on the infrastructure.”