More than 130 Liverpool hotels, bars, shops and restaurants have signed a letter backing the planned city centre zip wire.
North Wales adventure giant Zip World has already secured planning permission for two zip lines from the top of the 140 metre high St John's Beacon to the historic Liverpool Central Library.
But there remains and a councillor wants the city council not to sign a commercial deal that would allow Zip World to use the library.
Now owners and representatives from over 130 city centre retail and hospitality businesses have signed an open letter in support of the £5m scheme.
They say the positive economic impact from the attraction will be ‘significant’. The letter highlights reduced football in the city centre and how the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem.
It has been supported by sector leaders including Frank McKenna, chief executive of the influential business support group Downtown Liverpool, Bill Addy chief executive of the Liverpool BID company, and John Hughes chief executive of Liverpool Nightlife CIC.
The letter, which has been released today, states: "As businesses operating largely in the hospitality and retail sectors, we depend heavily on tourists and visitors coming to Liverpool. Our businesses depend on a thriving city that continues to draw people to experience our wonderful attractions.
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"In recent years, in common with all major towns and cities, we've watched with alarm as retail and hospitality outlets close down because of reduced footfall. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem for us all.
"The future is uncertain for many local businesses and so we welcome any credible plans to boost visitor numbers.
"That is why we are all supporting the forthcoming Liverpool zip line which is projected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Liverpool every year.
"The economic boost this will provide to the retail and hospitality sectors will be significant. We need it now more than ever.
"Liverpool has always been a city of firsts. This exciting new attraction will be the fastest urban zip line in the 海角视频 and Europe.
"It will bring a new generation of visitors, particularly families, who will then all experience the brilliant independent shops, bars, hotels and restaurants that we have to offer. The Liverpool Zip Line will put the city on the international tourist map yet again.
"We're right behind it.”
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Zip World - which was established by former Royal Marine Sean Taylor in 2013 - is projecting the attraction could bring 300,000 visitors into the city centre every year when it opens in 2021.
It already employs hundreds of workers at three quarry and woodland adventure sites in North Wales.
Frank McKenna, CEO of Downtown Liverpool, said: “This is a remarkable intervention by independent small business owners and representatives from a large number of bars, restaurants, hotels and shops in the city. These people are suffering the consequences of the recent pandemic and the general trend of declining high streets.
"They are desperately dependent on a bustling city centre to survive. They know more than anyone that we need to attract people to the city. They see the powerful economic benefits of attractions like Zip World Liverpool. It is vital that their views are taken into account.”