Tourist development in London Docklands in the 1980s and 1990s

Abstract

London is an international tourist destination and one of the world's most well known tourist capitals. Over 23 million overseas and domestic visitors contributed £ 4700 million to the city's economy in 1987. In this paper, the implications of a continued growth in international and domestic tourism are considered in the light of recent predictions which envisage that London's overseas and domestic visitors will rise from 23 million in 1987 to 27 million in 1990. One of the most pressing issues which tourist agencies such as the London Tourist Board face, is directing some tourists to new areas and attractions away from the existing concentration in the West End of London. In this paper, the existing and proposed development of tourism in the East End of London (London Docklands) will beexamined as a new area with the potential to attract visitors from the West End. London Docklands has attracted international attention due to the prestigious and controversial regeneration of the area where commercial and residential development has been stimulated by a government funded Urban Development Corporation. Tourist and leisure developments seem set to bring a lasting economic benefit to the area though they have attracted very little attention to date. © 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers.