Blackpool illuminations to be extended by a week

Blackpool is celebrating another year of increased visitor figures with the news that this year’s illuminations have been extended by an extra week.

Merlin, which operates the Tower, Madame Tussauds, Sealife Centre and Golden Isle Adventure Golf in Blackpool, is funding the extra week to extend Blackpool’s season even further for the benefit of local businesses.

Some 28 per cent of the 3.7m adult visitors who visited the resort during that period named the lights as the primary reason for coming.

When a ‘child factor’ is applied to the figures, it takes the total number of visits to Blackpool to well over 13 million, bucking the downward trend suffered by many UK destinations.

“I’m delighted that Merlin Entertainments has identified the huge benefit that the Illuminations brings businesses in the town by supporting this week extension. Iain Hawkins, head of Merlin Entertainments Blackpool, said: “The illuminations are a massive driver of visitors to the resort and extending their run can only be a good thing. Not only will it help businesses by extending the season but it will also give visitors even more opportunities to visit to see the fantastic lights.”