The campaign to develop Las Vegas style resort casino hotels in Blackpool has been given a boost by a visit by James Whelan, former mayor of Atlantic City.

Mayor of Atlanta for 12 years, until 1 January 2002, the purpose of Whelan's visit was to discuss the impact of gaming on the tourism industry with members of both industries, including Digby Jones of the CBI and Tourism Alliance, and Graham White, chief inspector of the Gaming Board of Great Britain.

Speaking at a coastal destinations conference organised by Locum Destination Consulting, Whelan said: The similarities between Blackpool and Atlantic City are remarkable. Resort casino hotels are ideally suited to coastal resorts. I'm not here to tell anyone what to do, but to share the Atlantic City experience.

Like Blackpool, Atlantic City was a seaside town in steep economic decline until gaming was legalised in 1977. The city now has 12 resort casinos, which generate $4bn and attract 34 million visits a year.

Work has just begun on Borgata, a 2,000-room hotel and mega resort in conjunction with MGM in Atlantic City, and is due to open in 2003.