Blackpool is Good to Go! The Fylde Coast tourism industry has finally reopened. And around 150 Blackpool businesses have already signed up to a new COVID-Safe industry standard.
Many of the resort’s key attractions are now open, including:
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach,
- The Blackpool Tower,
- Blackpool Zoo,
- Blackpool Piers,
- Coral Island and
- Madame Tussauds
- Along with hotels, restaurants, bars and amusement centres.
Behind the Scenes
For most, it was the first time they’d been able to open the doors to visitors since the pandemic lockdown began on March 23.
Since then, they’ve been working behind the scenes to remodel their operations. New working practices are now in place. All designed to ensure you can look forward to a safe and enjoyable experience.
Blackpool is Good to Go!
Scores of Blackpool businesses signed up to “We’re Good To Go” in the days before opening. It’s a new consumer mark from Visit England, to reassure residents and visitors. It shows that businesses are adhering to Government and Public Health guidance.
More than 100 hotels and B&Bs had secured the standard by reopening day on 4 July, along with key attractions, venues, restaurants, bars and shopping centres. It means they can now display the distinctive tick logo.
Welcome Back!
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “After months of telling people to stay away, it is a relief to finally be able to invite visitors back to enjoy all that Blackpool has to offer.
“We are very much aware that after months of lockdown, some people might be a little nervous about venturing out to do some of the leisure activities that used to be second nature.
“That is why, as a resort, we have aligned ourselves to a national industry standard and are working with our businesses to make sure as many as possible are displaying the “We’re Good To Go” mark as a show of confidence that they are doing everything required to protect the public.”
How Businesses get the Quality Mark
To obtain the standard, businesses must show that they have carried out a COVID risk assessment and are adhering to all of the latest Government guidelines and making necessary changes around social distancing, staff training and health and safety.
Measures include:
- Hotels and accommodation providers introducing deep cleaning regimes between guests.
- Meal services, including breakfasts, should be pre-booked and timed. Shared facilities only accessible to one family group at a time.
- Timed tickets introduced for some indoor attractions to reduce the number of visitors in locations at the same time.
- Introduction of one-way systems, clear floor markings and queue management systems to maintain social distancing measures at all attractions and help to limit contact between both staff and visitors.
- Encouragement of cashless payments throughout to avoid cross contamination.
To help visitors enjoy their resort experience, Blackpool Council has introduced a cashless parking app to avoid queuing at pay machines and opened a brand new toilet block at the southern end of the promenade.
Over the coming weeks, more hotels, B&Bs and other businesses will reopen as Blackpool’s tourism season starts to gather momentum.
Plenty of great places to enjoy!
And don’t forget that Blackpool has a wealth of open spaces to be enjoyed!
Including six miles of golden sands where you can kick off your shoes, paddle in the sea and enjoy long strolls along the promenade.
There’s green spaces aplenty to enjoy, especially at Stanley Park, voted the UK’s favourite park in 2019.
BUT PLEASE REMEMBER – stick to social distancing guidance outdoors and dispose of litter responsibly.
Welcome back!
