Double digit growth in Beatles trade as people of all ages flock to birthplace of the Fab Four
Liverpool’s tourism businesses have enjoyed as much as 15% annual growth in Beatles-related trade every year since 2008.
That claim was made by one of the local entrepreneurs behind the on-going International Beatleweek festival and comes as the city prepares for this weekend’s separate Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF). The continuing surge of interest in The Beatles has meant that Cavern Club owner Cavern City Tours has seen its turnover double in the past seven years and this year’s figure is expected to reach £6m with profits in excess of £1m. As well as the Cavern Club venue and International Beatleweek, the company also operates the Magical Mystery Tours around Liverpool.
Cavern City Tours co-owner, Bill Heckle, told ECHO Business: “We have had 15% growth since 2008 and we thought it couldn’t get any better, but it is. “This last week was as busy as Beatleweek ever was. The number of visitors to the city is continuing to rise.”
International Beatleweek runs between August 26 to September 1 and involves live gigs, talks, exhibitions, memorabilia sales and tours. It culminates this coming weekend when thousands of tourists are expected to flock to the city. Mr Heckle added: “There’s no season any more. It used to finish in mid-September when The Beatles and Mathew Street festivals were over. Now it continues to mid-December. It’s quieter but still busy over Christmas and then picks up in January when the cruise liners are in. We start live music at 10 in the morning. “There is no demographic. It’s both kids and older people. Nor is it just Beatles fans, it’s general interest, too. It’s a legacy from Capital of Culture.”
By: Bill Gleeson
Source: Liverpool Echo
