Bolton’s major attractions drive up coach trip figures
3:10pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News
BUS trips to Bolton are booming with the number of coach parties visiting the town rocketing to more than 1,000.
And one southern-based bus firm has seen the number of people coming on trips to Bolton rise from just 10 in 2011 to an expected 225 this year. Favourite destinations include Bolton Market, The Octagon Theatre, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre and Ena Mill in Atherton, a grade-II listed building with 100 retailers, a cafe and a restaurant.
Official figures show about 1,000 coach trips came to Bolton last year, with more than 300 to Bolton Market, a yearly increase of almost 25 per cent.
Tours range from day trips to longer breaks covering places like Manchester. And the town’s tourism bosses organised a trade exhibition to further boost the bus trip boom.
The Group Buyer Roadshow, which was held at the Reebok Stadium, attracted travel, hotel, hospitality and retail businesses. It aimed to build on the success of last year’s promotion of Bolton using the “football, fish and chips and Fred Dibnah” theme.
One of the organisers, Tasos Pattichis, owner of the Olympus fish and chip restaurant in Great Moor Street, said: “Despite the economic problems, there are many good things happening here with many people working really hard to put Bolton on the map.”
Steve Reed, of Hampshire-based Steve Reed Tourism, organises themed trips across the UK.
He said: “This is building on the success of last year’s Bolton work. We first started working with the Olympus in 2011 with 10 coach parties.
“Last year I organised 65 coach parties and this year I expect to organise at least 225. It’s grown amazingly.
“Each coach brings 50 people, meaning 50 purses and wallets full of money to spend. That’s a lot of money.
“Fred Dibnah is one attraction and other visitors love the mill outlets or markets.”
Bolton Council said a wide range of businesses and venues worked together to attract new visitors.
Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said: “The group party market is very important to Bolton and we know events like the Bolton Food and Drink Festival are a major attraction for group visits from across the country.”
Comments(36)
steveG
says...
1:19pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Roll in the coaches.
MMHolmes
says...
2:41pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Right then.......so the data's skewed.
Let's see how many of these "tourists" actually go on these trips solely to visit Bolton.
Hmmm......I'm from Bolton and live nearby and I only visit when I have to because it's a sheet-hole.
But no doubt Morris et al will use this latest (spurious) data to tell us what a great job they're doing for Bolton.....
davoovad
says...
4:12pm Thu 31 Jan 13
underwater
says...
5:05pm Thu 31 Jan 13
darrenrw
says...
5:56pm Thu 31 Jan 13
M J P Smith
says...
6:29pm Thu 31 Jan 13
davoovad
says...
6:45pm Thu 31 Jan 13
M J P Smith wrote:Why do russians wear underpants ? otherwise chernobyl fallout ...
There's more life in Chernobyl!
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
7:41pm Thu 31 Jan 13
dougie kay
says...
8:06pm Thu 31 Jan 13
dougie kay
says...
8:08pm Thu 31 Jan 13
hatonfire
says...
8:39pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I can only hope that anyone not from Bolton, considering a day out doesn't
read this site. The amount of anti Bolton comments on here from people who claim to be 'locals' is embarrassing.
Why people make ridiculous comments about the state of the town centre is beyond me.
There are too many privately owned shops that are closed and have been left to become derelict. These premises are not the council's responsibility yet posters on here point the finger at the council.
davoovad
says...
9:54pm Thu 31 Jan 13
hatonfire wrote:Sorry forgot to look behind the fish market, and yes our town is great so is the council especially Morris,.
During the summer months there are coaches parked behind the fish market that have brought visitors (hopefully spending their cash in our shops) from many parts of the country.
I can only hope that anyone not from Bolton, considering a day out doesn't
read this site. The amount of anti Bolton comments on here from people who claim to be 'locals' is embarrassing.
Why people make ridiculous comments about the state of the town centre is beyond me.
There are too many privately owned shops that are closed and have been left to become derelict. These premises are not the council's responsibility yet posters on here point the finger at the council.
BWFC71
says...
10:29pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Chrome1
says...
10:50pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Honest though, Bolton is getting more depressing by the day. I'm so embarrassed I want to leave.
Andyroost
says...
10:58pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Marzi30
says...
11:13pm Thu 31 Jan 13
ARBEE
says...
12:58am Fri 1 Feb 13
hoboh2o
says...
7:34am Fri 1 Feb 13
hatonfire wrote:I hope they DO read it so they will not get their hopes up too high for a great day out and just in case they do, keep your hands on your wallet and your bag zipped up! Don't take on the beggars and don't buy cake.
During the summer months there are coaches parked behind the fish market that have brought visitors (hopefully spending their cash in our shops) from many parts of the country.
I can only hope that anyone not from Bolton, considering a day out doesn't
read this site. The amount of anti Bolton comments on here from people who claim to be 'locals' is embarrassing.
Why people make ridiculous comments about the state of the town centre is beyond me.
There are too many privately owned shops that are closed and have been left to become derelict. These premises are not the council's responsibility yet posters on here point the finger at the council.
Chrome1
says...
9:01am Fri 1 Feb 13
Point made I think.
CumbrianTrotter
says...
11:15am Fri 1 Feb 13
cliff4treasurer
says...
1:01pm Fri 1 Feb 13
You are as bad as Morris with your spuriouse made up argument.
Bolton is a dump and one of the reasons has to be the adverse publicity around the parking demons (sorry wardens) which are in the control of the local council as are many other factors like the criminal (sorry again ) the democratic destruction of the market hall etc etc .
You are obviously not a Boltonian but a cliffite!
judyben
says...
2:09pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Chrome1 wrote:What point? That blanket argument won't stand up and smacks of Christian bashing and just perpetuates the sniping on here.How was World War 1 carried out in the name of Christianity? Are you writing a thesis on this? I am sure true Christians would find the events you mentioned abhorrent. They are down to far more complex causes but include an element of fanaticism-- and anyone can be a fanatic. If you are writing a thesis get the spellcheck on!
Here we go again Islam-bashing on a few of the posts. Just remember, war and destruction in the name of Christianity has done more harm than any other faith. Let's see now, Nazis - Christians, Hiroshima bomb - Christians, Spansih Inquisition - Christians, WW1 - Christian, Boer war (plus invention of concetration camps) - Christian, annahilation of the indiginous population of North America, South America and Australia - Christian.
Point made I think.
judyben
says...
2:16pm Fri 1 Feb 13
BWFC71
says...
9:18pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Andyroost wrote:What a load of rubbish. I frequently travel via coach to the mainland,a dn I have to say teh teh Border Force do a fantastic job. The last trip back we were held up at the border and an American was thrown off due to the fact he had a wrong visa to gain entry to the UK. Our coach was thorough checked over as well.
Forget Tourism, The Border Patrol are putting them on the coaches down at the tunnel, Out of the South someone elses problem, Get on any of the coaches, none will have passports and none will speak english till they get in Bolton Benefit Office.
Andyroost
says...
12:59am Sat 2 Feb 13
BWFC71 wrote:You tell me whos guideing all these car washers to Bolton, if Border force are doing good job how they gettin in by the thousands. pull the plug out and refil the tunnel and go back to ferries and planes, our countries on its asss
Andyroost wrote: Forget Tourism, The Border Patrol are putting them on the coaches down at the tunnel, Out of the South someone elses problem, Get on any of the coaches, none will have passports and none will speak english till they get in Bolton Benefit Office.What a load of rubbish. I frequently travel via coach to the mainland,a dn I have to say teh teh Border Force do a fantastic job. The last trip back we were held up at the border and an American was thrown off due to the fact he had a wrong visa to gain entry to the UK. Our coach was thorough checked over as well.
127001
says...
11:48am Sat 2 Feb 13
If Bolton is so popular for visitors/tourists then why are so many buildings boarded up around the Town Centre? Howcome the Market Place is half empty? Where are all the thriving businesses?
I've lived in Bolton all my life and have never seen the town centre look so dead during the week. It may get busier at weekends but nothing like it used to in the 1980's and 1990's. It really makes me sad.
Anne W.
says...
7:45pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Could it be anything to do with Smithills Coaching House being developed into housing!!!!
And the council want to keep this quiet
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
10:04pm Sat 2 Feb 13
ARBEE wrote:i think they all ready have as a proper room in each house means exempt from council tax
100 hundred mosques, and it wont stop until they get one apiece !!!
wagstaff
says...
10:26am Sun 3 Feb 13
Chrome1 wrote:and your point is
Here we go again Islam-bashing on a few of the posts. Just remember, war and destruction in the name of Christianity has done more harm than any other faith. Let's see now, Nazis - Christians, Hiroshima bomb - Christians, Spansih Inquisition - Christians, WW1 - Christian, Boer war (plus invention of concetration camps) - Christian, annahilation of the indiginous population of North America, South America and Australia - Christian.
Point made I think.
job well done
grimtown
says...
7:38pm Sun 3 Feb 13
BWFC71
says...
8:30pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Andyroost wrote:Is it hell liek on its arse. Many people come to the Uk to work - they pay their taxes and get a wage. Just as much as we can go to their country and do exactly the same.
BWFC71 wrote:You tell me whos guideing all these car washers to Bolton, if Border force are doing good job how they gettin in by the thousands. pull the plug out and refil the tunnel and go back to ferries and planes, our countries on its asss
Andyroost wrote: Forget Tourism, The Border Patrol are putting them on the coaches down at the tunnel, Out of the South someone elses problem, Get on any of the coaches, none will have passports and none will speak english till they get in Bolton Benefit Office.What a load of rubbish. I frequently travel via coach to the mainland,a dn I have to say teh teh Border Force do a fantastic job. The last trip back we were held up at the border and an American was thrown off due to the fact he had a wrong visa to gain entry to the UK. Our coach was thorough checked over as well.
I Have just returned from over 6 years in Holland where I worked and paid my atxes , and yes sent some money back to UK each month. I then got made redundant and had to use their benefits system. I only came off it due to the fact that I figuered out i could get a job back here in the UK quicker, and I did!!!
The same happens with Polish, Dutchy, Germans, French, Belgians, Spanish, Italians, et al who come here.
Also do not forget that we do NOT operate open border, link on teh mainland as we did not sign up the the Schengen Agreemeny and as such passports HAVE to be shown both inwards and outwards of the UK.
If you had any ounce of integrity in your post then you would realise we have been accepting teh Polish in our country for over 200 years and in fact more poles arrived in teh UK, after WWII than any other time in the history of Britian, and that inlcudes the last 10 years!!!
Not everyone who comes into the UK are scroungers, not everyone who is unemployed are scroungers. It about 1% in total and you are letting that minority make you look like a racist xenophobe bigot.
Also for your information there are many towns and cities in the south of the country that have far more migrant workers than what Bolton does, and for your information London is made up of 68% migrants than native English - so how is that sending them up to Bolton???
Also, if you are so digusted about it all, then why are you only maoning on a local papaer forum and not doing anything proper about it, such as starting your own business and only employing local "native" people??? Do you have the guts to do that, or are you just a moaner???
Pathetic individual.
BWFC71
says...
8:36pm Sun 3 Feb 13
ALI MINIUM KHAN wrote:Ever thought about having a chapel ort a prayer room in your house, so that you can be exempt from Council Tax.
ARBEE wrote:i think they all ready have as a proper room in each house means exempt from council tax
100 hundred mosques, and it wont stop until they get one apiece !!!
Either do what I suggest or just shut up moaning!!!
If you do neither then you only have yourself to blame to being passive rather than pro-active!
boltoncity
says...
12:53pm Tue 5 Feb 13
davoovad wrote:haha brilliant
M J P Smith wrote:Why do russians wear underpants ? otherwise chernobyl fallout ...
There's more life in Chernobyl!
myfanwy7
says...
1:58pm Tue 5 Feb 13
BWFC71
says...
2:36pm Wed 6 Feb 13
myfanwy7 wrote:Agreed!
The way in which contributors to this forum insist on turning EVERY news story into a discussion about immigration and xenophobia is deeply depressing.
They are just totally ignorant to all the fcats. They rely on papers like The Sun and The Daily Fail for their so called arguments. And yet been proved time and time and time again that their so-called arguments are just wrong and pathetic!
BWFC71 says...
1:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13
So lets see the revised figures for this and lets see if its still up!
Its now getting to the point, it seems, that Bolton MBC have to claim other towns areas to prove that Bolton is not failing!!! What next Bury Market will be part of Bolton? The Rock, in Bury is actually in Bolton? Chorley is in Bolton? Trafford Centre is actually on teh south side of Bolton MBC?