The conference discussed a wide range of the issues facing coastal towns, in particular whether they share common characteristics. The main issues raised were the diversity among coastal towns, for instance in terms of size and industrial structure; the changing demands of the tourist trade, with movement towards shorter visits and increased business tourism, and the response of coastal towns to this; the importance of transport infrastructure and accessibility in attracting private investment and helping coastal towns realise their full potential; the negative effects of poor quality houses in multiple occupation, which are a feature in many coastal towns; and whether central Government and regional development agencies should adopt consistent policies and strategy for coastal towns as a group, or tailor them to individual circumstances.