UK holiday hotspot in crisis as tourism numbers drop to ten year low

Tourism successful Cornwall has deed a 10-year low, with the caput of the county's tourism assemblage saying it wants to "bounce back" aft a challenging year

Cornwall's tourism main has expressed the county's determination to "bounce back" aft a decade-low successful visitant numbers past year. Jon Hyatt, who heads Visit Cornwall, acknowledged economical pressures but insisted that the tourism assemblage is committed to doing its best.

Speaking astatine a tourism acme successful Truro, helium praised Cornwall's unsocial entreaty but highlighted the request to navigate the existent economical scenery and "substantial" outgo burden. His comments travel those of Tim Jones, seat of the South West Business Council, who stated that tourism successful southwest England was experiencing its lowest constituent successful a decade.

UK Hospitality's Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls, warned that upcoming taxation increases from April could spell the extremity for immoderate businesses. Under Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget changes, employers volition look rising National Insurance contributions, an accrued minimum wage, and altered concern rates from April.

Ms Nicholls cautioned against balancing the country's finances connected the backs of tiny businesses successful counties similar Cornwall, informing of a "It volition person a devastating impact."

According to Cornwall Opportunities, tourism contributes 15% to Cornwall's economy, with astir 4 cardinal overnight stays and 14 cardinal time trips annually, reports the Express.

The assemblage reportedly generates £2 cardinal successful yearly visitant spending, supporting implicit 35,000 jobs.

Cornwall's breathtaking coastline, idyllic beaches, and areas of outstanding earthy quality are large draws for visitors. Malcolm Bell, the erstwhile Executive Chairman of Visit Cornwall, shared with the BBC last twelvemonth that a dip successful tourism numbers could beryllium attributed to mediocre weather, the general election, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Speaking to the broadcaster successful October, helium noted that portion tourism typically experiences ups and downs, 2024 was "flat each the mode through". A Government spokesperson highlighted the value of hospitality and tourism, stating: "Thriving hospitality and tourism sectors play a important relation successful increasing the economy, arsenic the UK was the seventh astir visited state successful the world successful 2023."

They added, "We person ensured that much than fractional of UK employers volition either spot a chopped oregon nary alteration successful their National Insurance measure from April and are providing 40% concern rates alleviation up of introducing a permanent, caller little concern complaint from 2026."