Tourism, the economy and the local community
Tourism is the mainstay of the Lake District economy. In common with many rural areas it has taken over from farming as the main source of income. Many farmers have diversified into tourism by providing accommodation and services for visitors. In 2009 tourists spent £925.7 million. The Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001 had a devastating effect on many farmers as it impacted on their income from farming and tourism at the same time.
Benefits of tourism
Tourism brings great benefits to the area. Visitors spend money on accommodation, food, drink and leisure activities and indirectly support other business such as wholesalers and the building trade.
- Income: In 2009 visitors spent £925.7 million in the Lake District (source STEAM 2009: Cumbria Tourism).
- Numbers: In 2009, 15.8 million tourists visited the Lake District (source STEAM 2009: Cumbria Tourism)..
- Employment: Tourism provided 11,575 jobs (full time equivalents) in the National Park
Challenges of tourism
With so many visitors there are bound to be some challenges such as
- Traffic congestion and parking
- Footpath erosion: read more on Fix the Fells (opens in new window)
- Affordable housing - demand for holiday homes pushes up house prices for local people
- Pollution and litter
- Jobs are often seasonal and wages are low
History of tourism in the Lake District
Lake District tourism first became popular in the late eighteenth century following the publication in 1778 of Father Thomas West’s “A Guide to the Lakes”. Before long, the writings of poets such as Wordsworth, Southey and Coleridge were promoting the beauty and splendour of the landscape to a nation eager to escape the growing cities.
In 1810 William Wordsworth’s published his own “Guide to the Lakes” which sold rapidly and encouraged many more visitors. Political problems in Europe also meant that wealthy tourists, who might otherwise have done a grand tour of the great cities of Europe, were looking for opportunities to travel closer to home.
The “working classes” soon joined the ranks of holiday makers, partly because improved working conditions led to a shorter working week, increased wages and paid leave. The railway reached Windermere in 1847 followed by further lines to Keswick and Lakeside. These allowed many more people from a wide range of social classes to visit on day trips from the industrial areas of the North East and North West of England.
Improvements in the roads and widespread car ownership led to ever increasing numbers of visitors from the 1960’s although competition from cheap holidays in the sun is fierce.
The future of tourism
The credit crunch and an increasing awareness of the environmental effects of flying may reverse this trend and lead to renewed interest in holidays in Britain. Climate change scientists are predicting hotter drier summers in Europe which could make the Mediterranean a less appealing place for summer holidays and boost the popularity of the Lake District.