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Coastal visitor numbers 'down a third' | |
(3 days later) | |
The number of people visiting the UK's coastline is down by about a third in 10 years, a National Trust report says. | |
In an online survey this year, 42% of people said they visited the British coast for a day out each year - down 20 percentage points from 62% in 2005. | |
But the Coastal Connections Survey says the coast remains a "big contributor to quality of life and wellbeing". | But the Coastal Connections Survey says the coast remains a "big contributor to quality of life and wellbeing". |
The research, conducted by YouGov, was completed by 5,047 adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2015. | |
The report goes on to suggest that the reason for the decline in coastal visitors might be generational. | The report goes on to suggest that the reason for the decline in coastal visitors might be generational. |
Its findings for the last 12 months include: | Its findings for the last 12 months include: |
The areas where people are least likely to visit the coast from are the Midlands (37%), London (33%), Manchester (36%), Sheffield (41%) and Nottingham (44%). | The areas where people are least likely to visit the coast from are the Midlands (37%), London (33%), Manchester (36%), Sheffield (41%) and Nottingham (44%). |
The biggest barrier stopping people from visiting coastal areas, the report says, is not having enough spare time - a reason given by 29% of people. | The biggest barrier stopping people from visiting coastal areas, the report says, is not having enough spare time - a reason given by 29% of people. |
Other barriers are UK coasts being too busy when the weather is nice (23%), too expensive (18%), not having easy access to transport (17%) and preferring to go abroad than holiday in Britain (14%). | Other barriers are UK coasts being too busy when the weather is nice (23%), too expensive (18%), not having easy access to transport (17%) and preferring to go abroad than holiday in Britain (14%). |
Of those who do go, 64% say they take their loved ones to generate "happy memories", while 61% say visiting the coast or seaside is important to having a good quality of life. | Of those who do go, 64% say they take their loved ones to generate "happy memories", while 61% say visiting the coast or seaside is important to having a good quality of life. |
'Cheap package holidays' | 'Cheap package holidays' |
Kate Martin, the National Trust area ranger at Formby, Merseyside, told BBC Radio 5 live she had noticed a decline in tourism in that part of the country over the last 10 years. | Kate Martin, the National Trust area ranger at Formby, Merseyside, told BBC Radio 5 live she had noticed a decline in tourism in that part of the country over the last 10 years. |
She said: "Ten years ago we were seeing around 450,000 people visit a year. I'd say that has dropped to about 250-300,000. | She said: "Ten years ago we were seeing around 450,000 people visit a year. I'd say that has dropped to about 250-300,000. |
"It does seem to be a generational thing and that partly has come with the rise of cheap package holidays." | "It does seem to be a generational thing and that partly has come with the rise of cheap package holidays." |
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Trust's Neptune Coastline Campaign - one of the longest running environmental campaigns in western Europe. | This year is the 50th anniversary of the Trust's Neptune Coastline Campaign - one of the longest running environmental campaigns in western Europe. |
This has resulted in the charity managing 775 miles of coast in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, equating to over 10% of the UK's coastline. | This has resulted in the charity managing 775 miles of coast in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, equating to over 10% of the UK's coastline. |
The Trust is now asking the public to help poet Dr John Cooper Clarke complete a specially commissioned poem, using the Twitter hashtag #lovethecoast. | The Trust is now asking the public to help poet Dr John Cooper Clarke complete a specially commissioned poem, using the Twitter hashtag #lovethecoast. |
Correction 14 August 2015: This story has been amended to clarify that the decline in visitor numbers between 2005-15 - from 62% to 42% of respondents - equates to a third or 20 percentage points, not 20% as previously stated. |