Cornwall, renowned for its picturesque beaches and charming landscapes, is experiencing a quiet holiday season which is troubling local businesses and industry leaders. The season, usually bustling with visitors, is noticeably quiet, causing alarm in the trading community. Remarkably, although Europe is gripped by intense heatwaves with Spain, Greece, and Italy experiencing temperatures soaring to 40C, the UK’s cooler retreats haven’t seen an expected boost in popularity.
Devon, Cornwall’s neighbour, is also experiencing a decline in tourism, with projections suggesting a drop of 10 to 15 percent compared to last year’s figures. Some attribute the slump to accommodation prices and other reasons. One reader of Cornwall Live commented on the high prices deterring holiday rentals, while another pointed out the anti-tourist sentiment: “I decided not to return to Cornwall due to the negative attitude of the locals who seem to hate tourists.”
Someone else added: “Seems packed to me, at least on the coast. Parking anywhere for the beach is very difficult.” They may suggest a shift towards more affordable alternatives like campsites or caravanning amid rising hotel costs. Some locals have expressed their disappointment, feeling that Cornwall has missed a prime opportunity to draw in new visitors during the pandemic.
Environmental concerns are also deterring potential tourists, with some highlighting the sewage warnings at Cornwall’s beaches as a deterrent. One person said: “Many come for Cornwall’s beaches… which now have sewage warnings!” Malcolm Bell, the chairman of Visit Cornwall, attributed the dip in visitor numbers to the increased cost of living and less favourable weather, suggesting these factors could be altering holiday patterns.
Despite these hurdles, Bell remains optimistic, pointing out the trend towards last-minute bookings. He noted: “The weather and the cost of living means that we are slightly below where we’d expect to be, but bookings are incredibly late, often within a week of people arriving, so there is still much to play for this summer.”