Cornwall is usually a popular destination for families during the summer holidays, but this year the region has seen a significant drop in visitors, with locals being blamed for ‘hating tourists’
Brit holidaymakers are shunning traditional favourite Cornwall for Spain with locals blasted for “disliking tourists”.
Cornwall is known for its stunning beaches and picturesque landscapes but is experiencing a dip in tourism. There has been an influx of visitors during the summer months, but this season has been quiet compared to other years.
It is causing worry among local businesses and tourism officials as the area has not been able to bring in the crowds even with the scorching heatwaves sweeping across Europe, reaching highs of 40C in Spain, Greece, and Italy. Tourism bosses had hoped that such extreme temperatures would drive tourists towards the cooler UK destinations.
Devon, Cornwall’s neighbour, is also seeing a decline in tourism, with local tourist boards predicting a drop in visitors by 10 to 15 percent compared to last year. Some point fingers at skyrocketing accommodation prices and a perceived negative attitude from locals towards tourists.
“Accommodation prices are ridiculously high, so I expect fewer people are using holiday rentals, hotels or B&Bs,” one person said. Another stated: “I decided not to return to Cornwall due to the negative attitude of the locals who seem to dislike tourists.”
Environmental concerns are also deterring potential tourists, with many put off by the sewage warnings at Cornwall’s beaches. One person highlighted the environmental concerns, stating: “Many come for Cornwall’s beaches… which now have sewage warnings!”
Others have suggested that tourists might be opting for more budget-friendly alternatives like campsites or motorhomes instead of traditional hotels, reported CornwallLive. And not all people in Cornwall have noted a difference with one a comment saying: “Seems packed to me, at least on the coast. Parking anywhere for the beach is very difficult.”
But with the general reduction in visitors, some locals have expressed their disappointment, feeling that Cornwall has squandered a prime opportunity to continue drawing in the new visitors since the pandemic. Malcolm Bell, the chairman of Visit Cornwall, attributed the dip in tourism to the soaring cost of living and less favourable weather, suggesting these factors could be altering holiday patterns.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Bell remains optimistic, pointing out the current trend for last-minute bookings: “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,” he commented.
