Western Morning News (Saturday)
Tourist boost for ‘world class’ West
Peak season reopening on the cards with hopes of additional bank holiday
HOPES are rising of tourism reopening in time for a summer peak – and that the season could enjoy an extension through the autumn to provide a boost to a vital part of the South West economy.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says the Government remains committed to the “ambitious target” of a July 4 opening and has thrown his weight behind the idea of an October bank holiday.
He told MPs the Government would be launching a campaign to encourage Britons to book domestic holidays in seaside towns. Mr Dowden said he would be “rigorously championing” British holidays, raising the prospect of a staycation boost, just as quarantine measures for arrivals into the UK are about to come into effect on Monday, putting a damper on overseas vacations. The minister also took time to praise Cornwall as a “world class tourist destination”.
Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said he was “more optimistic that some way or other we will be operating from July”, while Rick Turner, who chairs the South West Tourism Alliance, said an October
bank holiday would be “brilliant”.
The visitor economy has begun to take its first steps out of lockdown, with the Eden Project opening its gardens from today, joining other horticultural attractions. In a further boost, new flights were announced from Cornwall Airport Newquay.
HOPES are rising of a tourism reopening in time for a summer peak and that the season could enjoy an extension through the autumn to provide a boost to a vital part of the South West economy.
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, says the Government remains committed to the “ambitious target” of a July 4 opening and has thrown his weight behind the idea of an October bank holiday.
He told MPs the Government would be launching a campaign to encourage Britons to book domestic holidays in seaside towns.
Mr Dowden said he would be “rigorously championing” British holidays, raising the prospect of a staycation boost ahead, just as quarantine measures for arrivals into the UK are about to come into effect on Monday, putting a damper on overseas vacations.
The minister also took time to praise Cornwall as a “world class tourist destination”.
Mr Dowden told MPs: “We’re hoping to get tourism back as rapidly as possible, and when it is back we will be investing extensively, ensuring we have a major campaign to encourage British people to take British staycations.”
Asked about Visit Britain’s push for a new bank holiday during the October school half-term, predicted to boost tourism nationally by £500 million, he said he would be discussing the “excellent proposal” with the business secretary, Alok Sharma. “One of the challenges we will have is getting the sector up and running as strongly as possible in the summer and extending it for as long as we can,” he added.
Cherilyn Mackrory, the Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, told Mr Dowden the “hugely important” tourism industry supported one in five jobs in Cornwall and called on the Government to promote the destination.
Mr Dowden said: “Well, I know Cornwall is a world class tourist destination. I spent many happy holidays there as a child and indeed have taken my own children there on many occasions.
“I think it is really important that, as I said, we’re hoping to get tourism back as rapidly as possible, and when it is back we will be investing extensively ensuring we have a major campaign to encourage British people to take British staycations.”
The supportive words come as the visitor economy takes the first steps out of lockdown with the Eden Project opening its outdoor gardens from today joining other horticultural attractions that began their season this week, including RHS Rosemoor in North Devon and some National Trust sites. In a further boost, new flights were announced, between Cornwall Airport Newquay and Teesside.
Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said an autumn bank holiday would be welcome. “We are grateful for any boost at the moment. We are short of bank holidays at the back end of the year and one in the October half-term would be helpful.
“The opening up sends a message of how things will be: visitors will have to book ahead for time slots at attractions and book for meals in restaurants. They will have to book their accommodation ahead – there might not be room if they just turn up.
“I am a bit more optimistic that
some way or other we will be operating from July.”
Rick Turner, who chairs the South West Tourism Alliance, said an October bank holiday would be “brilliant”. “As a country, after all we have gone through, everyone needs a bit of optimism. A bank holiday would be a real boom for the hospitality industry.
“I am more confident now than I was a couple of weeks ago about a summer opening. It will be a soft opening, with locals in the first couple of weeks and then visitors coming in as more accommodation opens up.
“Hopefully when the attractions are open it will take some of the pressure off the pinch points like beaches and parks,” said Mr Turner, who runs The Big Sheep attraction in North Devon. “We will be looking to open with ticketed slots in the morning, afternoon and looking to go into the evening, to spread the numbers out.”
Initiatives would help boost visitors’ confidence and encourage them to follow guidelines to keep themselves, workers and other locals safe. These included Torbay’s Responsible Riviera, urging people to respect guidelines and follow social distancing, which would help reassure locals about the influx of people.
“Visit England is putting together a domestic marketing campaign, a kite mark that businesses can display online to show they are covid safe,” said Mr Turner.
“The challenge is going to be how much money businesses can take, when they are able to operate profitably given the reduced numbers and additional costs such as for personal protective equipment and extra cleaning and the rest.
“The industry is going to need extra support through the winter.”