Row over Cornwall reopening for tourism

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A row is brewing over whether Cornwall should be reopening for tourism in early July.

While it has yet to be officially confirmed, it is widely anticipated that lockdown measures will be relaxed further, with hospitality businesses, including hotels, holiday parks and restaurants, allowed to open from July 4.

But while the Cornish tourism industry focuses on reopening, there are those who think it is too early. Cornwall Council economy portfolio holder, Tim Dwelly, fears that a big influx of visitors would bring a significant risk of a second spike of coronavirus to the Duchy.

Instead, there are calls for Government to extend its furlough scheme to Cornish hospitality businesses through to 2021.

However, others insist that it is vital that Cornwall should be allowed to reopen at the same time as the rest of the country and delaying it would be a huge mistake.

TV’s Hotel Inspector and owner of the Tresanton in St Mawes, Alex Polizzi, told the BBC: “Cornwall has, relatively, a very short season, and business owners up and down the county absolutely depend on those months to put some money in the coffers to see them through the winter. I think it shows a shocking lack of understanding of how tenuous some businesses are to think that we can just write off the summer season and hope we can survive through the winter.”

7 COMMENTS

  1. We are the tail end of the country . So far we have not been hit hard by Covid 19 . Let tourist in & we will be overwhelmed by the virus .We do not have the hospitals to cope .Look what happened at the beaches a few weeks ago . .We are in for another heatwave so we are going to be inundated again .Close the beaches & close the roads to them .The locals do not want tourist here .It all boils down to money which would you rather have your life or money ……

  2. The R number is higher in Cornwall than most of the rest of the country, so visitors are more likely (i.e hardly at all) to be infected by the Cornish than the other way around.

    • Agreed. But the Cornish (most of whom actually are not from the County at all) greedily think they should have it completely for themselves. Perhaps the rest of the UK should exclude the ‘So called Cornish’ residents who complain. Many don’t of course and want to get on with their lives welcoming visitors and supporting the local economy. Get back to normal or starve.

  3. I think the Cornish should build a wall to keep everyone else out forever and everyone else should pay for it.

  4. It’s an awkward one, as I can see it from both sides but for me there’s only one choice. I appreciate people’s livelihoods are at risk but what is the cost of someone’s life? I’m in a difficult position as I’m both a key worker and also a shop owner. I’m lucky enough to have a second job and realise many people have no income whatsoever right now but I’d rather not open our shop while there is a chance this virus is active and may spike again. I feel deeply for the hospitality industry and understand the long-term damage which may be caused if the industry remains locked down. I’d hate to see everyone I know who has so far survived, struck down by this abhorrent virus.

  5. I AGREE AS A B&B OWNER, BUT ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GOING TO SAY SORRY WHEN WE ARE IN LOCK D OWN AGAIN, WE ALL KNOW HOW LONG THE SEASON IS?? TO TRY AND MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR WEIGH UP THE PRO’S & CONS ALL THE ADDED EXPENDITURE ETC, IS IT WORTH THE WORRY, TO TRY AND RUN THE GAUNTLET AND RISK YOUR HEALTH?? BETTER TO ACCEPT A LOSS NOW AND CUT YOUR COSTS AND OUTLAY, AND START AFRESH, PEACE OF MIND YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON THAT???.

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