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The railways also had a great effect on the surrounding towns and countryside. Torquay grew in importance because it a had a railway station but not all towns were so fortunate. Many towns looked on desperately as the trains passed by them without stopping - taking their prosperity with them. These towns died economically. Even the road transport was reduced because so many goods were carried on the new trains. The railways also brought the end of the old way of life
The age of the railway brought an era of prosperity and many large hotels were built in Torquay, starting in 1863 with the building of the Imperial Hotel, still the largest hotel in Torquay. This postcard is dated April 4th 1914.
1902 saw the first advertising campaign to bring healthy visitors to Torquay - rather than people recovering from illnesses. Torquay changed in character from being a winter holiday resort to being a summer holiday resort. follow this link Rail traffic increased steadily until WW1. (During WW1 soldiers were brought to Torquay to recover from their injuries.) After the Great War an effective advertising campaign by The Great Western Railway Company was responsible for making Torquay a major resort. The busiest day was on August Bank Holiday in 1938, just before the outbreak of WW2, when 20,000 passengers arrived in Torquay station, followed by 50 trains the next day.
Since the war tourist patterns have changed considerably. Many more people have the money to travel abroad for their holidays and nearly everyone has a car. This means that fewer visit British holiday resorts but when they do they do usually travel by car. The British holiday has become a touring holiday with visitors staying only one or two days in each place. The visitor does not bother to book a hotel, but prefers to stay at one of the numerous cheap bed & breakfast establishments instead (b&b's). The Beatles song 'Daytripper' is about this form of holidaymaking.
In recent years Torquay has become better known abroad and we have received more foreign tourists who usually tour in cars like the British holidaymakers. In fact, many students at TIS return with their families in subsequent years to tour the area.
But the tourist has been replaced in importance by a new kind of visitor - the one who comes to stay. The Westcountry in general has become an area of strong net immigration. People move from all parts of the country to live in a mild climate in an area surrounding by beautiful countryside and largely free of the crime and social problems of the cities. Many of the new residents are retired folk, but many others are of working age who have simply come to escape city life. The infrastructure is good, the healthcare system excellent, and communications with other parts of the country are also good. So many people have come (including myself, I am from London) that it can be difficult to find an adult born locally.