Bacta Launches “Siding with the Seaside” Campaign

The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta) has launched its “Siding with the Seaside” campaign to reenergise Britain’s coastal communities.

The campaign aims to drive greater awareness of the unique conditions that are creating economic challenges in Britain’s seaside towns. Britain’s coastal communities are comparatively more deprived and on average underperform economically when compared to inland areas. For these coastal communities, tourism is a vital industry.

“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,” John White, CEO at Bacta said.

“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 are an important part of coastal communities, providing essential income for families, but also preserving our heritage,” John White added.

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.