DOMESTIC tour operators claim it will take up to a year to
recoup revenue lost during the foot and mouth crisis.
Some operators have lost up to 80% of their business so far
this year because of the crisis and one said the market has “virtually collapsed.”
Leigh-on-Sea based Coach Stop has seen an 80% drop in
tourists. Proprietor Gail Hopes said: “Nothing will bring back the trade we’ve
lost. It will take us months to recoup that money–the domestic leisure market
has virtually collapsed.”
London coach operator Berkeleys has lost £40,000, about a
third of its tourism business. Managing director John Moir said the company
will not recoup the losses year.
Many operators have blamed the Government for their handling
of the crisis and said it has not done enough to assist the tourism industry throughout
the crisis.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Culture Media and Sport
defended the Government’s actions. She said: “As soon as we knew the scale of
the problem we worked hard to encourage people back to the countryside.”