Cornwall is grateful for the visitors it’s had
SIR – Tanya Gold (“Cornwall has had its fill of unwelcome visitors”, Comment, December 16) is right about the economic pressures inside Cornwall, but the headline to her article is not a fair representation of Cornish opinion.
The surge of visitors following the end of the first lockdown was widely welcomed. It kept many businesses afloat; had the summer holiday season been lost, they would have faced what is known as the “triple winter scenario”. An extended season brings much benefit to businesses and their employees. James Williams
Redruth, Cornwall
SIR – I am Cornish born and bred, and over the years have watched this once special place being turned into nothing more than a circus tent.
Of course we need tourism, but not to the detriment of local people, who no longer use their own villages. Magazines and organisations such as Visit Cornwall publicise this “hidden gem” – but the whole world already knows about it. This cannot carry on.
During the national lockdown I walked around my village and started seeing locals again. I felt a pang on remembering that it was like this not so long ago. There used to be a period of respite at the end of the summer, but the tourist season has been extended so much that even this has gone.
The Cornish, by nature a laid-back people, have been taken advantage of, without regard for our wellbeing or heritage. Cornwall used to be different, but each year it becomes more and more like everywhere else. David Penprase
Porthleven, Cornwall