In British and European terms, Manchester has always been a city that encourages tourists to unearth its treasures.
As a result, 2018 saw a 10% rise in visitors from overseas countries. In 2019, the local authority decided to increase their target to £1.2 billion in business tourism.
The city has been through highs and lows recently, yet it appears as if the future is set to be even brighter on the tourist front because Andy Burnham could easily watch records tumble with millions of more visitors flocking here for these very reasons.
Investment in Natural Beauty
Manchester isn’t the only entity to value natural beauty. Over the past year, millions of have visited national parks around the country. The Lake District is easily the most popular among guests, with an average of 24 million visitors per year. In 2020, the region hit £3 billion from business tourism for the first time.
However, the trend has been scaling upwards since 2016, with pretty much every national park experiencing a rise in guests year on year. For Manchester, this is excellent news due to the city’s brilliant location next to some of the biggest natural hot spots in England.
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The Lake District is less than 90 minutes away, for example, while the Yorkshire Dales is only next door. Of course, the Peak District is even closer as it’s in neighbouring Derbyshire.
Thanks to its proximity to these increasingly popular beauty spots, the city will surely experience a wave of tourism made up of people who base themselves in Manchester.
Consolidating Its Facilities
Anyone who has spent time in Manchester will know that the city has excellent facilities.
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Only recently, the Mayor of Greater Manchester announced his plans to reassert control over the city’s buses by 2024. The tram service, which is one of the few left in the north and the whole of the UK, is regularly on time and beloved by locals and guests.
Then, there are the improving nightlife and hospitality scenes, both of which pull in hundreds of millions a year and give back to the economy. Yet, what makes the future exciting is the impact of technology on services that people used to travel for specifically, such as overseas gambling facilities. The likes of Las Vegas and Macau are renowned as global stars as millions of people flock to the cities for incredible gambling experiences.
Previously, Manchester would have found it hard to compete, but the internet means the city can appeal to a wide range of people by offering the same experience virtually. By showing people how they can find the best American online casino without going to the US or China, Manchester is bound to strike a perfect balance between providing betting services without the hassle. For example, Brits from other parts of the Kingdom can cut the costs of a holiday by travelling to Manchester while still getting the full US casino vibe by logging in to their favourite provider online.
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Manchester is already a shining light of domestic and international tourism since it’s a famous destination with millions of visitors. However, its location and investment in its facilities may lead to an explosion of interest from around the UK and the globe.
Chester Zoo is hiring a new keeper to look after its ‘birds and bees’
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is currently hiring someone to look after its ‘birds and bees’, and you can get your applications in the for role now.
If you’re after a career change in 2026, then surely it doesn’t get much better than this?
The UK’s biggest charity zoo currently has a vacancy open for a Keeper to join the Invertebrates team, and for the right candidate, this offers a fantastic opportunity to work as part of the wider Ectotherms department – with a focus on native species conservation.
Chester Zoo is responsible for one of Europe’s largest and most-diverse animal communities, and this is your chance to be a part of what makes it so special.
For this full-time role, the zoo is looking for an ‘enthusiastic, dynamic, and motivated’ individual to provide extensive knowledge and proven expertise in caring for and managing all the native invertebrate species that live there.
The ideal candidate for this job will have a HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science or equivalent experience, and have ‘outstanding’ observational skills and attention to detail, as well as be committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of animal health and welfare are met.
The role of ‘Keeper – Invertebrates’ is 40 hours per week on a 12-month Fixed Term basis, with the working week being 10 days out of 14, including weekends and bank holidays as rostered, and the salary being £25,500 per annum.
Working at Chester Zoo comes with an ‘excellent benefits package’ and loads of perks too, including a generous pension scheme, 33 days paid holidays per year, a healthcare plan, pension scheme, a staff pass so you can visit the zoo for free, and complimentary tickets for friends and family.
Think you’re fit for the job? The closing date for applications is 22 November 2026, and you can find out more and apply for the role here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Business
Full list of Manchester restaurants set to add an extra £1 to bills to tackle homelessness this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A handful of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.
As November arrives, the temperatures begin to start dropping, and the nights set in a little earlier, people in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.
This year, 15 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launches today (1 November).
Manchester independents such as Proloco, Erst, Ezra & Gill, Stretford Canteen, and Blue Eyed Panda are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre chain restaurants such as Lina Stores, Tampopo, Banyan, Manahatta, and San Carlo.
Now in its 29th year, StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)
Since launching in 1998, the campaign has raised over £16.2 million to support charities across the UK, providing practical help, from meals and emergency accommodation to healthcare, training, housing advice and routes towards finding a permanent home.
The StreetSmart team says it’s determined to deliver another record-breaking year in 2026, and provide much-needed support to the services that help some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Manchester restaurants taking part in StreetSmart 2026
Proloco
Hache MCR
Bar Posie
SAMPA
Blue Eyed Panda
Ezra & Gill
Erst
Little Seeds
Lina Stores
Stretford Canteen
Hawksmoor
Manahatta
San Carlo Bottega
Tampopo
Banyan Bar & Kitchen
“The festive period can be an incredibly tough time for the vulnerable people in our community,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.
“StreetSmart provides a simple way for people to help some of our city’s most in need. Giving back whilst dining out at Christmas is what StreetSmart is all about, and we’re thrilled to have so many restaurants already taking part.
The Manc -
20th January 2021 
