Tourism in Cornwall has seen a significant dip this summer as holidaymakers look for cheaper package holidays abroad over inflated fees domestically.
This is the view of Malcolm Bell, chairman of tourism body Visit Cornwall, who told Express.co.uk that both Cornwall and neighboring Devon have seen significantly lower numbers of tourists visiting this year than in previous years.
“The weather and the cost of living means that we are slightly below where we’d expect to be,” Mr Bell said earlier this year. The BBC reported earlier this summer that numbers were at “lowest point for 10 years”.
Tim Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council, has spoken about the effects this has had on local business, with numbers falling “from about £10bn turnover by about £1bn at the moment.”
He also told the BBC that it is thought About 17% of pubs and restaurants in the region have closed down as the sector struggles with dwindling numbers of tourists.
The reasons are thought to be due to inflated prices of staycations, with short term let prices often far higher than abroad.
Costs of eating and drinking out, alongside unreliable weather and increasingly cheaper options across the continent are thought to be other reasons for the low numbers.
Cornwall as a region has been in news recently for entering discussions about greater powers of devolution, potentially as part of a south western peninsula wide deal with Devon.
There was also talk, earlier in the summer, of the region instituting a tourist tax, something that is unlikely to endear more tourists to visit the region.
A number of readers of Cornwall Live have had their say on why they think the county has experienced far less visitors than before – and views are extremely split.
Lynne D Perry blames: “Greedy landlords, overpriced restaurants,” as key reasons for the dip. “It’s probably worse for us locals than it is for tourists.
“I’m happy to see a slump in tourism. You hear people say ‘we need tourism, can’t survive without it’. I disagree, the Cornish are a hardy and inventive bunch.”
Kay Greenway agrees, claiming that “Cornwall is fleecing the tourists.” Bryan John Williams also puts the dip down to price increases saying that “the Cornish holiday industry has been ripping people off since Covid and have only themselves to blame for a lack of tourism not returning.”
Another commenter, Anthony Dean, doesn’t believe the lower numbers can be felt. Antony Dean says: “What lack of tourists? Where I live has been rammed with tourists every day.
“Car park spaces have often run out leading to obstructive parking. Local businesses have been complaining that despite being rammed with tourists, they have empty wallets.