Blackpool's twinning links with China have boosted dance festival

Council chiefs say they will consider the achievements of the scheme ahead of a decision on whether or not to continue the links.

Officials from the city in Hainan province, which is also a beach destination, visited Blackpool in 2016 to sign the agreement.

At the last full council meeting, Coun Gary Coleman quizzed the ruling Labour group about whether the arrangement would continue.

In a written response council leader Coun Lynn Williams said she was pleased with the outcomes that had been achieved and added “we will review this when we and Sanya consider our ongoing relationship.”

Achievements listed by Coun Williams include investment in the Blackpool Dance Festival, said to be worth £500,000 when the twinning was agreed, discussions around Chinese students studying hospitality in Blackpool and Chinese interest in investing in the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

Coun Williams said in her reply: “The Chinese version of the (dance) festival pays the Winter Gardens a significant fee annually and in addition to this it has resulted in increased numbers of Chinese competitors at the festival in Blackpool.”

Coun Coleman said twinning links helped put Blackpool in the global spotlight.

He said: “During my time as mayor and deputy mayor my wife, Debbie, and I were fortunate to meet many Chinese citizens who were visiting Blackpool for the dance festival.

“It was a delight to meet and interact with them and to learn a little about their lives and their stories.

“Many hundreds of photographs were taken with us by our visitors. Each picture was probably seen by many people on social media back in China, and Blackpool’s name would have accompanied each one.

“I was informed the photos that showed Blackpool in such a positive way would have been seen by tens of thousands of people in Asia.

“This is just one small example of how a connection with towns and cities around the world can work to make Blackpool a resort known to a global market.”