Business

Manchester’s tourism levels are about to skyrocket

The Manc The Manc - 20th January 2021

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.

If you’d like to find out more, check out slotxo.

Featured image: Mangopear Creative / Unsplash

Business

Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2024.

Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world – but now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Based on millions of online reviews, the new ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.

Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024 / Credit: Chester Zoo

According to Chester Zoo, the “wonderful news” means that, as a conservation charity, it can continue its work with countries across the world to “help all animals survive and thrive”, as well as provide expert care to the 37,000 animals who currently call the zoo their home.

The zoo has also thanked its visitors for all their continued support each year, as this allows to “keep making a difference”.

“With every admission ticket, membership, animal adoption, or experience purchased, you are contributing to our mission of preventing extinction,” Chester Zoo said in a statement.

Speaking on the coveted new TripAdvisor title, Jamie Chirston, who is the CEO at Chester Zoo, says he’s “over the moon to be named the best zoo in the UK”, adding in a statement that: “It’s an incredible achievement and especially pleasing given it’s based on thousands upon thousands of genuine reviews and opinions.

“It’s a real seal of approval from our visitors, and testament to every single one of our dedicated, hardworking, and talented staff that make our conservation zoo the wonderful place it is.

“Every time someone walks through our gates, not only do they enjoy all kinds of wildlife experiences and a have great day out, but they’re also contributing to the vital conservation work we carry out here and around the world, and that’s why, as a not-for-profit conservation zoo, this top TripAdvisor ranking means such an awful lot to us.

It’s all thanks to more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings by visitors on TripAdvisor / Credit: Chester Zoo

“It’s confirmation that we’re getting things right for our visitors, [which is] especially important as, together, we’re preventing extinction and making a real difference for wildlife.”

The UK’s best zoo isn’t the only title Chester Zoo has claimed this month either, as TripAdvisor has also listed it as the eighth-best zoo or aquarium to visit in the whole of Europe too.

Read more:

So it double congratulations are in order – and they couldn’t be more well-deserved, right?

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

Business

‘Not just for mums’ – Iceland drops iconic slogan after more than 50 years

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Iceland has dropped its iconic slogan after more than 50 years, and has finally admitted that it’s “not just for mums”.

We all know that “that’s why mums go to Iceland” is one of the most famous slogans in British retail history… but, as of last week, more than 50 years since it was first uttered on TV, Iceland has decided to say farewell to the iconic phrase.

The headline-grabbing move is thought to be the supermarket‘s bid to become more inclusive, as it has cited the decades-old tagline as “outdated”.

Iceland’s first use of ‘mum’ in its’ marketing campaigns was all the way back in 1970 with the phrase “Mums love it”, before it was slightly changed to “Mum’s gone to Iceland” in 1988 ahead of its expansion into Europe in 1991.

Iceland has dropped its iconic slogan after more than 50 years / Credit: Iceland Foods

Then finally, in 2004, the frozen food retailer introduced its now most-iconic strapline, “So that’s why mums go to Iceland”, to coincide with introducing celebrity pop star Kerry Katona as the new face of its TV advertisements.

But now, as part of its latest advertising campaign, the world ‘mum’ has been dropped once and for all in favour of the altered tagline “That’s why we go to Iceland.

Explaining its decision to part way with its use of ‘mums’, Iceland’s Executive Chairman Richard Walker commented: “Iceland’s always been number one with mums, but the reality is, people from all walks of life, and life stage, choose to shop with us. That includes everyone from students and seniors, to single-parent families, mums, dads, and fitness enthusiasts.

“We’re a Great British institution, and open to all.”

Alongside the new slogan, Iceland is continuing its tradition of appointing celebrity mums as the face of the company.

TV presenter Josie Gibson has landed the role of the supermarket’s new ambassador.

Read more:

“With her famous warmth and positivity, Josie is the perfect person to encapsulate the friendly welcome all our customers receive at Iceland,” Mr Walker continued, adding that the retailer is “delighted to have her onboard”.

Featured Image – Iceland Foods

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