The rich nugget of encouraging more tourism to Southport has yet to be fully exploited when it comes to selling our unique local history. The fact that we were world leaders back in the 19th century by creating the first boulevard in the world, gives us a real edge in attracting even more visitors to our resort.
Americans in their millions have, through the decades, visited York in northern England because they wish to see its great history going back to Roman and Viking times; New Yorkers in particular often make a pilgrimage here during their lifetimes. This generates a very large annual income for the local economy by cashing in on its 2,000 years of history - its 1,000 year old Minster in particular is the epicentre of this ancient city.
Many local features throughout Britain are being publicised and presented as attractions to increase tourist numbers as this is now considered to be the modern equivalent of creating a local ‘gold mine’. Southport likewise needs to exploit its first boulevard in the world claim that inspired so many other towns and cities wordwide to copy our famous street.
Displays of our great historical past such as stately homes and castles tours and even the 4,000 year old Stonehenge should not be knocked by short-sighted commentators who have failed to take into account that 2/3rds of all British tourism is based on our rich history. This is embedded locally in our own fine tree-lined Lord Street, a thoroughfare not given enough prominence in our local tourism advertising seeing that it was a world first.
Certainly an annual pageant to celebrate this fact to our visitors, who may not otherwise be aware of this special feature, is long overdue and can only enhance Southport’s presentation.