Covering Great Yarmouth as a one-woman band (aka I’m organizing, filming, writing, and editing everything on my own) has been an extraordinary learning experience. Not only have I learned an incredible amount about what journalism means in the 21st century, but I’ve also learned so much about what it’s like to live and be a part of the British seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.
Initially I had trouble finding people who were willing to speak with me about their business on camera, however yesterday and today I had much better luck. I met one woman named Tracy Manning – who owns a chips (French fries) shop in Great Yarmouth’s town centre. I ventured over there to buy some fresh fruit and happened to notice her setting up her stand, She had a tired look on her face – as if she had been running this business for years and had become extremely entrenched in her daily routine.
I approached her cautiously – not wanting to get in the way of her daily routine. She ended up being very receptive to me and allowed me to film her as she helped the delivery man carry in a fresh sack of potatoes for the day’s sales. Tracy ended up being very kind. She is 40 years old and was born and raised here in Yarmouth. She runs a chips stand alongside her brother – who runs a fruit stand just beside her. Tracy, in my opinion represents the essence of local tourism. She is someone who has lived in Yarmouth all her life and has decided to stay here and adapt to the changing tourism industry –which she admits has lost a lot of people in recent years. As I film her boiling oil to fry the potatoes, she nervously comments to me that I should come back in a hour – around 1 or 2pm- when there are more customers.
Her expression tells the rest of the story.
Locals who are involved directly in the local tourism industry – aka they run tourism dependent businesses like chip stands or ice cream stands- face the constant struggle of a wavering truism industry. Fewer and fewer people are coming to British coastal seaside towns like Yarmouth and its taking its toll on businesses run by people like Tracy.
For the last few days, I have had the great fortune of getting to meet the people of Great Yarmouth, learn how they live their lives, and understanding how tourism- an industry that accounts for about 30 percent of the economy- affects their lives. Today I also ventured away from the seaside and endeavored to explore the heritage part of a Yarmouth – a huge component of the tourism industry.
In fact, most locals tell me, most buildings in Yarmouth are over 100 years old – making history a major selling point. Ernie and Karen Childs run a local art and pottery business where they sell paintings and pottery as well as run a museum and give classes. The type of business Ernie and Karen run – one that has had to adapt to an industry that has seen a dramatic decline in customers- is one that has adapted and has fund new ways to appeal to tourists.
Their secret – heritage. “ Ice cream stands are only popular when the weather is warm” Karen said, “Heritage and Yarmouth’s history are interesting any time of the year.” To help their business survive, Ernie and Karen had made it their mission to promote heritage-based tourism in order to attract customers all year long – not just during the summer months. When I arrived on scene to film my story, Ernie and Karen treated me like grandchild. I felt instantly at home and appreciated their willingness to open up about their business and the struggles they have faced.
A decline in tourism had taken a toll of a variety of tourism businesses in the area – but locals are finding a way make it work. During my coverage so far, I found that the people of Yarmouth are resilient. Many are passionate about the heritage here – one that dates back to the 16th century. They have vowed to fight for the local tourism industry and believe it can survive the tough road that lies ahead.
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