Devon and Cornwall tourism bosses tell local holiday let owners to TURN AWAY visitors from the North looking to escape high-risk Tier 3 Covid areas
- Council bosses called on let owners to keep the regional infection rate down
- Visit Cornwall highlighted Govt guidance advising against people leaving Tier 3
- His intervention came after some let owners revealed bookings from North
Holiday companies in Devon and Cornwall have been urged to turn away northern staycationers looking to swap tough lockdowns for looser restrictions.
Council and tourism bosses yesterday called on let owners to keep the regional infection rate down by refusing bookings from visitors travelling from Tier 3.
Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, highlighted Government guidance that people living under the harshest measures should not leave their area unless essential.
His intervention came after some anxious let owners took to social media to reveal they had received accommodation requests from coronavirus hotspots.
But his advice could fall on deaf ears as beleaguered tourism providers try to drum up reservations to compensate for the bruising shutdown earlier this year.
Boris Johnson’s localised battle plan to suppress the virus has carved up the nation into three Covid-19 alert levels, each with different restrictions
It is feared the South West’s enviable position in the lowest bracket, meaning it only follows national curbs such as the Rule of Six and the 10pm curfew, could appeal to people living under the tightest restrictions (Fistral Beach in Cornwall, file photo)
Boris Johnson’s localised battle plan to suppress the virus has carved up the nation into three Covid-19 alert levels, each with different restrictions.
It is feared the South West’s enviable position in the lowest bracket, meaning it only follows national curbs such as the Rule of Six and the 10pm curfew, could appeal to people living under the tightest restrictions, which bans households mixing and forces wet-led pubs to close.
In an attempt to head off a stampede to the South, Mr Bell said: ‘We all need to play our part in limiting the spread and intensity of the Covid 19 crisis by reinforcing the Government guidance for areas with high level and high restriction’.
He advised all people not to take bookings from anyone living in the affected areas and urged people to cancel any planned visits.
Mr Bell’s plea was echoed by leader of Cornwall Council Julian German who impressed on firms the need to safeguard the community.
Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, highlighted Government guidance that people living under the harshest measures should not leave their area unless essential
He added: ‘Our first priority is to keep our residents safe during this pandemic and ensure that undue strain is not placed on our health service.
‘It is not easy, especially after such a difficult year, to ask any business to turn trade away, but these are exceptional circumstances and we are asking everyone to work with us to keep Cornwall safe.
‘In Cornwall we are seeing relatively low numbers of infections, which is welcome. However, we know from other areas of the country how quickly the picture can change.
‘I am not willing to undo the fantastic work of our public health team in keeping our residents safe, and that is why I am asking those who visit us to follow the rules. Do not travel to Cornwall if you live in a high-risk area and help us to keep Cornwall safe.
‘Our tourism industry is a vital part of the Cornish economy, and we all look forward to the day when we can welcome visitors back with no restrictions.
‘However, while we remain in such a precarious position with regards to the pandemic, we must continue to protect our residents.’
One holiday let owner from Torbay, Devon, which is currently in the lowest category of ‘medium’, drew praise after revealing she had refused a booking from a party based in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
In Barnsley, there are 335 coronavirus cases per 100,000, but in Torbay it is just 76.
News of the cancellation was shared on Facebook, and people were quick to share their support.
Sarah Reay wrote: ‘Absolutely, she did the right thing. As a Lancastarian, living in Devon, I would love to visit my friends and family in the north of England, and invite them down here.