Popular UK staycation region 'crisis' as tourists leave and businesses forced to close

A fashionable UK staycation portion has been dealt a devastating stroke aft 2 large household attractions successful the country person closed their doors and pulled the plug owed to affordability

Cornwall’s tourism manufacture has been dealt a devastating blow, arsenic 2 of its astir iconic household attractions person been forced to permanently unopen their doors.

Dairyland Farm Park, a fixture of family holidays for astir 50 years, closed its doors for bully past weekend. The institution confirmed that ongoing fiscal struggles were not helped by the Covid pandemic. The Newquay-based farm, which has provided generations of visitors with workplace days, has go the latest casualty successful the falling domino of tourism successful the area. The 2nd attraction, Flambards Theme Park, successful Helston, besides pulled the plug.

After 48 years successful business, Flambards—famous for its thrilling rides and family-friendly shows—decided to adjacent owed to declining numbers. Both these closures are portion of Cornwall’s tourism industry's struggles to bounce backmost from years of pandemic-related disruption and rising operational costs.

This summertime marked the worst tourer play successful Cornwall successful implicit a decennary aft being a favourite for staycations for a agelong time. Businesses that person go babelike connected holidaymakers person felt the pinch too. According to figures from the South West Business Council, astir 20% of Cornwall’s bars and restaurants person unopen their doors successful the past twelvemonth alone. Some person blamed operational costs whilst others blasted labour shortage struggles.

“We’re seeing less radical coming down to Cornwall, and those who bash are spending less. With less tourists around, section businesses are uncovering it harder and harder to enactment open” says Tim Jones, president of the SWBC. Cornwall is facing contention from cheaper planetary destinations similar Spain and Italy. As flights to Europe go much affordable, distant locations and costs is turning radical away.

For those without a car and constricted transport options successful the area, it’s not the destination for everyone. Journeys to the South West tin instrumentality hours connected extremity from Manchester or London, with respective transfers and forms of transportation. With the assembly taxation hike connected 2nd homes acceptable to instrumentality effect successful April, the country volition beryllium impacted erstwhile it comes to accommodation by reducing the availability of short-term rental properties.

Travel adept Zak Ali said the ongoing diminution successful tourism would person to interaction connected Cornwall's economy, including jobs and businesses. Tourism is worthy £2 cardinal annually to Cornwall, accounting for 15% of the section economy. Local leaders person urged involution and enactment for businesses but the question remains volition Cornwall suffer its apical UK staycation crown question volition the aboriginal of its tourism beryllium overshadowed by cheaper options?