Survey highlights public support for UK’s seaside gaming halls
Findings suggest that over three quarters of people believe that arcade closures would have a negative impact on the country’s seaside towns.
UK.- The gaming hall trade body Bacta has highlighted the results of a YouGov online survey that suggested strong public support for seaside amusement halls. Of 2,186 adults surveyed, 77 per cent said they believed that arcade closures would have a negative impact on the country’s seaside towns. Only 9 per cent said the impact would be positive.
Asked whether arcades were important to seaside towns, about 66 per cent said they were. Some 16 per cent of the public said that seaside arcades were among the most important attractions for their visit, placing them broadly on par with pubs (17 per cent), theme parks (14 per cent) and museums (14 per cent).
Bacta has been warning that the proposed rise in Machine Games Duty (MGD) being considered for the UK Autumn Budget would lead venues to close.
Reflecting on the survey findings, Bacta President Joseph Cullis said: “RNLI data estimates that approaching 50 million visits are made to the UK coastline over the entire summer season with Visit Britain calculating that domestic holidaymakers and day-trippers will generate up to £4.1bn for the broader UK tourism and hospitality economy over this Bank Holiday weekend alone.”
He continued: “The YouGov findings confirm that arcades are viewed as an intrinsic part of the Great British Seaside Holiday. A hike in Machine Games Duty will increase the tax burden on already struggling businesses. This would directly compromise the appeal of British seaside tourism, forcing arcades to either close permanently, cut operating hours, or pass costs on to holidaymakers. Consequently, a diminished, more expensive experience would reduce traditional multi-night breaks to single-day trips, and possibly drive families to holiday abroad.”
“Seaside arcades rely on gaming revenues to remain viable year-round,” he added. “This income sustains employment past the summer peak and preserves attractions that are vital to Britain’s coastal heritage. Without it, the economic damage will ripple through the wider business community, impacting assets such as bars, cafes, pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs.”
The survey was conducted over August 9 and 10, before reports confirmed that the government is considering a change in MGD.
