Latest news with #VisitCornwall
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Calls for views on possible future Cornwall 'tourism tax'
Business owners in Cornwall have been asked to give their opinions on whether there should be a tax or a levy on body Visit Cornwall has started a survey which will run until the end of the month which it said was about presenting a "unified industry response". A tourism tax or levy is extra money generated from tourists or the tourism industry, such as added charges on overnight accommodation for visitors. Jon Hyatt, who chairs Visit Cornwall, said he was "against any charge that might put visitors off". Although Cornwall Council said in 2024 it would not press the government for devolved powers to introduce such a levy, Visit Cornwall said there were "growing suggestions" again for its introduction. Mr Hyatt added he did not want tourists to receive "wrong messaging" which might lead people to think they would be "better off going elsewhere"."Tourism tax and visitor levies do work in other locations, but that is particularly mainland Europe and cities where the visitor demographic and local economy is different," he said any proposal should meet the "principles of fairness and transparency, industry involvement and reinvestment in Cornish tourism". 'Create a barrier' Alistair Handyside, from the South West Tourism Alliance, said he did not welcome the idea of a tourism said he did not know of "rural and coastal areas" where it had worked."You have to be very careful how this would be applied, what the money is used for and how it is determined how it is spent," he CEO of the Eden Project, Andy Jasper, also had doubts about the said Cornwall had seen a "slight decline" in tourism in the last decade."We completely understand the rationale behind wanting to bring in more money to support the tourism industry, but why would you put anything in place to create a barrier in this area?" he said. In St Ives, mayor and town councillor Johnnie Wells said he had called for a voluntary community proposal was for a voluntary scheme run through accommodation providers which would not require any legislation."Any money collected in St Ives should stay in St Ives," he said."We have 11,500 people who live here paying for services that hundreds of thousands of visitors use a year. One pound a night would seem to be a fair price compared to Europe."It would need to be affordable, transparent and spent on things that offset the impact of tourism - like recycling or training for local young people."The Visit Cornwall survey is running until 31 July.
The Herald Scotland
08-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Padstow in Cornwall among Britain's best genteel seaside towns
Padstow was featured alongside nine others in a list from The Telegraph, which was highlighting coastal destinations that made for a refined trip. The publication said: "While there's a certain nostalgic joy to the type of coastal resort that's all candy floss, waltzers and slot machines, there's arguably greater pleasure in towns that have the seascapes and the golden sand but that are more cute than kitsch. "More sourdough than doughnut. More vibrant arts scene than end-of-the-pier innuendo. More artisanal ice cream than Mr Whippy." The full list of Britain's best genteel seaside towns can be found on The Telegraph website here. Why is Padstow among Britain's most genteel seaside towns? Padstow is obviously known for its variety of restaurants, which have made it a haven for diners and give it a refined quality. The Telegraph wrote: "Peaceful fishing village turned foodie phenomenon, Padstow is the British coast's tastiest choice. "Rick Stein is the main man about town, of course. His original Seafood Restaurant turns 50 this year, but has since been joined by a smorgasbord of other venues; for sociable platters served with Camel Valley sparkling, try his Seafood Bar & Fishmongers." For other options, try Paul Ainsworth at No.6 if you want to go "fancy", while BinTwo is a recommended wine bar/bottle shop. The publication adds: "Balance all this consumption with a walk along the cracking coast path and a ferry trip over to – even posher? – Rock, 'Britain's Saint-Tropez'." Another place to try out is the Padstow Kitchen Garden, which was created by former Rick Stein chef and seventh-generation farmer Ross Geach. You can gorge on "greenhouse dinners" here as part of 'feasts' that they run, or take part in a course learning how to cook nutritious meals using vegetables you've grown yourself. In terms of a place to stay, The Telegraph recommends Plum Cottage, which has only opened this year. It is said to be "an exquisitely restored, Grade-II listed, antique-filled hideaway". What else can you see and do around Padstow? As the Visit Cornwall website says, Padstow is more than "just great places to eat". It adds: "It's still a working harbour, it's surrounded by glorious beaches, and offers a base to explore the Camel estuary." The town is surrounded by "two breathtaking National Landscapes" in the Camel Estuary and Carnewas to Stepper Point. Recommended reading: It says: "This area is rich in natural beauty, home to rare plant species and one of the UK's most protected mammals, the otter. It's the perfect spot to slow down and enjoy the tranquillity of nature." Outside of the fine dining, there are plenty of cafes, bistros and pubs where people can enjoy some quality food and drink offerings. Some of these include The Harbour Inn, Old Custom House, The Shipwrights and The Golden Lion.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- BBC News
South West tourism gearing up for bumper year as hopes rise
Devon and Cornwall's tourist industry is showing signs of optimism, with early indicators suggesting a potentially strong season ahead, say tourism Cornwall and Visit Devon report encouraging booking trends, with a rise in day has also been a growing number of international tourists from North America, Canada, Japan, and India choosing the region as a like the River Dart Country Park near Ashburton in Devon are already seeing the benefits and are predicting a "bumper year". "Bookings are looking good for the summer," said Roger Sell, who manages the park. "Devon is looking great, and the site is ready. It's definitely gearing up for what could be a bumper year."Official figures support this optimism. Devon is estimated to welcome 868,000 visitors in the Whitsun week of 2025 - the week following Whit Sunday or Pentecost, which is on 8 June this year - a slight increase from 867,000 over the same week in 2024. "Compared to last year, we're up on numbers, which is great," said Keith Southwell, who runs the heritage railway Lappa Valley Railway, near Newquay."The weather certainly hasn't hurt either."A strong Easter period and extended spells of warm, dry weather have helped drive interest and bookings, particularly for the peak holiday months said tourism Everton, from Visit Devon, said there had been a surge in overseas visitors, especially from Canada."Rather than heading to the US, many are looking at Europe, and we're targeting them to come here," she said. "We're also seeing a return of European tourists, and growing interest from India and Japan."
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Cornwall beach named among best hidden gems in England
The list was pulled together by the outdoor clothing company Millets, who created a list based on high Tripadvisor ratings from a relatively small number of reviews. Sam Chadwick, blog author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets said: 'In recent years, more people have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors, with hotspots like Mam Tor and Scafell Pike growing in popularity. "We have compiled a list of England's best hidden gems, for those who want to avoid the crowds whilst enjoying the outdoors.' Cornwall beach ranked among England's best hidden gems The top 10 hidden gem spots in England, according to the list from Millets, were: Porth Joke Beach, which is located not too far away from Crantock, came in second place, earning a 4.8/5 score on Tripadvisor from 153 reviews. It just missed out on first spot to Embleton Bay in Northumberland, which had an almost perfect Tripadvisor score of 4.9/5. Known locally as 'Polly Joke', Porth Joke Beach is an "archetypal Cornish bay of wild rocky outcrops" according to the Visit Cornwall website. It is located quite a walk away from any parking spot, meaning there is a bit of a trek to get to it, but it is worth it for the relative seclusion and amazing views. The north-west facing cove is owned and cared for by the National Trust, and doesn't have any amenities. It has earned plenty of rave reviews from those who have visited, with many appreciating its quiet charms. One person wrote: "Porth Joke (aka Polly Joke) Beach turned out to be our favourite beach of our holiday! It's a bit of a walk from the nearest car park, but worth it when you get there. To reach Porth Joke it is a little bit of a walk from the nearest car park (Image: Richard B/Tripadvisor) "Fabulous spacious sandy beach, dog friendly all year round, great caves, small rockpools, stunning scenery." Recommended reading: Another said: "Utterly glorious on a hot summers day. Blue, clear sea, golden sand. From late May to July, you have to pass by fields of red poppies. A truly wondrous place." A third posted: "Hidden gem (or as hidden as a Cornish beach can be). Small, quiet beach if you want to get away from the big beaches and crowds." Other Cornwall spots that featured in the top 10 were Portheras Cove, Lantic Bay and Cardinham Woods.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Stunning' UK seaside town with 3-mile beach sees house prices plummet by £13k
Despite boasting three miles of golden sands, a vibrant town centre, and ubiquitous history - this beautiful seaside town has witnessed its house prices slump by 3.3 per cent Famed for its glorious beach, crystal-clear waters, and soaring cliffs - you'd expect this vibrant seaside town to be doubling its house prices by the minute. However, new analysis has shown several of the UK's most-desired coastal spots are witnessing a major slump. As previously showcased with our interactive map, average house prices in Cornwall jumped by 2.2 per cent last year to £293,000. But, not every town in the county saw substantial growth - including Perranporth, peacefully tucked away on the rugged north coast. Known for its wild waves which attract surfers from across the world (and being the birthplace of the first UK surfboard), Perranporth is a chilled-out town jam-packed with things to do. You can spend your weekend strolling on soft golden sand, making sure to stop at Black Flag Brewery for a pint or aim for a hole-in-one at the Perranporth Golf Club. Like any good seaside resort, you'll also be spoiled for choice when it comes to feasting on Fish & Chips. "Perranporth has a rich and fascinating history: according to legend, St Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall, was cast into the sea from Ireland tied to a millstone and washed up on these sandy shores," Visit Cornwall, the area's official tourist board hailed. "He built a Christian oratory in the dunes and the story goes that his first disciples were a badger, a fox, and a bear! The ruins of this oratory, or the 'lost church, dating from the 6th century are still preserved in the sanddunes to this day." Despite its eclectic offerings, research analysed by Regency Living found house prices in the town had fallen by 3.3 per cent over the last year (an average drop of £13,000). Despite the hefty reduction, average property prices in the region still remain north of £400,000 -almost double the national average. "It's certainly no coincidence that some of the most popular coastal locations boasting the most over-inflated house prices have also been subject to some of the largest market corrections over the last year," said Tim Simmons of Regency Living. "Whilst the picture is certainly improving, homebuyers are continuing to contend with far higher mortgage rates than they've become accustomed to in recent years and this is restricting the price they can afford to pay at all levels of the property market." The property ace went on to argue that Brits haven't fallen 'out of love' with the seaside, but are focusing more on cheaper coastal nations. "Affordability has always been a key issue across the nation's most sought-after coastal locations, as high demand to live beside the seaside, coupled with a finite level of stock, has driven property prices up considerably," he added. If moving to Perranporth is still out of your budget, the seaside town makes for a great mini staycation. Located more than 280 miles from London, it would take city folk around five hours and four minutes to drive here. Alternatively, you can get a four-hour-and-12-minute train ride from the Big Smoke to Truro - and then get a 19-minute taxi or 51-minute bus ride. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for around £65. Accommodation in Perranporth is limited due to its size, meaning it can get quite expensive. For example, a four-bed holiday home just 850 yards from the beach would set you back £3,080. This is based on two adults staying two nights, from Friday, June 6-8. Those wanting to explore the coast on a budget should check out The Paddock Wildcamp, located 2.1 miles from Perranporth's centre. You'll be able to stay in a double-bed tent on the exact same nights for just £165.
