The end of the summer may be nigh, but for northern seaside town Blackpool the holiday season has only just begun. Since Blackpool Football Club was promoted to the Premiership in May of this year, hotel searches for the town have shot up by a massive 164 per cent according to travel comparison website, travelsupermarket.com.

September is always a busy month for the town as the famous Blackpool Illuminations (3 September – 7 November) attract crowds from around the country. However as the town gets set to welcome a new crowd of visitors with the first home matches of the football season, it seems both home and visiting fans are making the most of a trip to the lively North West resort.

Based on UK hotel searches over the last four months since the football team was promoted, the seaside town has moved up from ninth place to fourth

According to figures from travelsupermarket.com northern seaside resorts overall have been more popular in 2010 than they were in 2009, despite the apparent colder, wetter weather northerners experience.  Based on the top 20 UK seaside town searches there has been the following shift.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, commented: “Undoubtedly the promotion of Blackpool’s football club is a welcome boost to hoteliers as well as the town’s economy as a whole.  In addition to visiting for a Premiership football match, Blackpool has a lot to offer whether you’re travelling with your family, friends, or as a couple.  It’s a unique all year round destination that seems to have more and more to offer every year.”