Region’s tourism business should open if it is safe
TOURISM businesses in the South West should prepare for an influx of visitors this summer - if the region can open safely.
Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said the wider economy of Cornwall depends on tourism and that “if we can operate safely then we should operate safely” this summer.
He said: “As always public health comes first and that goes without saying but is always worth reiterating.
“We did have two-and-a-half million people down last year with no impact on the pandemic which is proof that the industry can operate in a Covid safe manner.”
He added that even if all of Cornwall’s residents don’t support tourism that the fishermen, farmers and food producers also need a visitor economy to be able to thrive.
“There are lots of other people who also need the support so if we can operate safely then we should operate safely,” he said.
“And we should also allow people to come down and have a good time, respect us down here and respect the environment but to also reconnect and make some memories.”
He continued: “We should always have an open approach for responsible visitors and it should be something for them to look forward to.”
He added that when the time comes Visit Cornwall will be working with the Cornwall Council and the rest of the industry on the visitor message which will outline the behaviours that will be welcomed in the county, and the behaviours that won’t be tolerated.
Speaking of what we can expect to see this summer, Bell believes that as the vaccination programme reaches new levels and people are starting to think about the possibility of travel once again, that it might be a holiday season where we see an influx of multigenerational visitors.
He said: “I think actually what we will see is a lot of grandparents and grandchildren finally having the chance to come here and to make some more memories and we’ve all got wonderful childhood memories of being in Cornwall so we should allow that
“People can come down, and have a great time creating those memories after what has been a long, hard year for everybody.”
Addressing concerns over a potential influx of visitors he explained that despite people claiming Cornwall was busier then ever in the summer of 2020 that it was not the reality.
“What happened was just that it was a big shock,” he explained. “The traffic and the car parking wasn’t any more than any normal year it was just a case of going from absolutely nothing on July 4 to full steam ahead.
“But it will be busy, no busier than a normal year, but it is going to feel busy because it has obviously been so quiet and there could also be extra people coming down to stay with friends and relatives this summer.
“It’s really up to us all of to remind people, whether they are staying in a hotel, in a spare room or in a tent in someone’s garden about sticking to the rules, being respectful and having patience.”
Bell said we are not yet at the stage where we will be seeing a return of international visitors.
He said: “We speak regularly to overseas and everyone is talking about 2022 for international travel. Nobody is talking about this year. The international trade is keen to come back but we won’t be seeing many in 2021.”
We should always have an open approach for resposnsible visitors MALCOLM BELL