| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 8 |
| Copyright: Other |
Family favourites: popular attractions such as Alton Towers fared well over the break
executive Malcolm Bell said: “Tourists did turn up but they decided to go to the coast, including Paignton, Torquay and Newquay, rather than the moors. I think people want to support the tourism industry.”
Towns and villages throughout Cumbria, the worst hit region, were busy over the weekend as visitors rallied round the beleaguered county.
Cumbria Tourist Board chief executive Chris Collier said: “We are encouraged by the levels of business, particularly following the difficulties of the previous six weeks.
“Different sectors have seen different levels of success. Shops are reporting that takings are down, while most visitor attractions have done well.”
Despite the upbeat reports, almost two million people are believed to have fled Britain over the bank holiday weekend.
Airports reported figures up by as much as 25%, with 330,000 going through Heathrow over the holiday period and 240,000 via Gatwick. Luton, which handled 69,000 passengers, had a record Easter. Meanwhile, the combined figure for the Channel Tunnel and ports serving Europe reached 500,000.
But despite encouraging signs, a survey conducted by the English Tourism Council into public opinion about the crisis shows the UK trade isn’t out of the woods yet.
The report highlights demand for traditional favourites such as Alton Towers (up 10% compared to Easter 2000), but apathy towards smaller countryside venues. And while day-trip business appears to have recovered, overnight and weekend stays continue to suffer.
Beside the seaside: resorts such as Brighton, left, and Blackpool saw attendance up on last year
EARLY indications are that domestic Easter bookings fared well, despite endless television footage of burning animal carcasses in popular UK holiday regions.
In fact, for some seaside towns the crisis delivered an unexpected boost, with visitors choosing the coast as a ‘safe’ alternative to the countryside.
Brighton, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Scarborough all reported a rise in attendance of up to 300% on the same period last year.
UK tourists seemed to make a conscious effort to support organisations such as the National Trust. Its decision to open its attractions reaped dividends with 200 properties reporting visitor numbers up on last Easter.
A National Trust spokesman said:”We have had a surprisingly good Easter even in those areas where foot and mouth is most savage. The opening of attractions such as Stonehenge was seen as an icon that the British tourist industry is open for business.”
In the West Country, one of the worst affected areas, visitor numbers were also higher than anticipated. An estimated 900,000 people visited the region over the Easter weekend, compared to a million at the same time last year.
South West Tourism chief executive Malcolm Bell said: “Tourists did turn up but they decided to go to the coast, including Paignton, Torquay and Newquay, rather than the moors. I think people want to support the tourism industry.”
Towns and villages throughout Cumbria, the worst hit region, were busy over the weekend as visitors rallied round the beleaguered county.
Cumbria Tourist Board chief executive Chris Collier said: “We are encouraged by the levels of business, particularly following the difficulties of the previous six weeks.
“Different sectors have seen different levels of success. Shops are reporting that takings are down, while most visitor attractions have done well.”
Despite the upbeat reports, almost two million people are believed to have fled Britain over the bank holiday weekend.
Airports reported figures up by as much as 25%, with 330,000 going through Heathrow over the holiday period and 240,000 via Gatwick. Luton, which handled 69,000 passengers, had a record Easter. Meanwhile, the combined figure for the Channel Tunnel and ports serving Europe reached 500,000.
But despite encouraging signs, a survey conducted by the English Tourism Council into public opinion about the crisis shows the UK trade isn’t out of the woods yet.
The report highlights demand for traditional favourites such as Alton Towers (up 10% compared to Easter 2000), but apathy towards smaller countryside venues. And while day-trip business appears to have recovered, overnight and weekend stays continue to suffer.