Latest news with #VisitDevon
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."
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Daily Mail
UK beach named as dupe of stunning spot in the South of France by travel experts
A picturesque UK beach has been described as the 'perfect off-grid getaway' and a dead-ringer for a world-famous spot in the South of France. According to Barricane Beach in Devon is the ideal budget dupe for Calanque d'En-Vau in Marseille. Calanque d'En-Vau is one of the prettiest coves located along the French coast between Marseille and Cassis. The beach's beauty attracts plenty of tourists who travel there by boat or by hiking along the cliffs. But if a trip to the South of France is out of the question this year, Brits might be able to find a similar vibe at Barricane Beach. says: 'Much like Calanque d'En-Vau, a famous and picturesque rocky inlet between Cassis and Marseille in the South of France, Barricane Beach in Devon is the perfect off-grid getaway. 'Known for its dramatic rocky landscapes, clear waters and remote access, it's also a great spot for those who love hiking. 'It features a cafe that serves homemade Sri Lankan curry throughout summer, making it a wonderful place for a refreshing sea dip, a delightful dinner and a stunning sunset.' Sometimes known as Shell Beach, Barricane Beach is located in Woolacombe and is a popular surfing spot. The pretty cove is also known for its 'exotic sea shells'. Visit Devon explains: 'Local folklore says that these shells have travelled off the shore of a Caribbean island thousands of miles across the Atlantic to be dropped in near-perfection condition in this precious little inlet on the North Devon coast.' The Barricane Beach cafe is open from 10am and serves a simple lunch menu. Its famous Sri Lankan curries are served between 5-7pm but tourists should be aware that the cafe is cash only. Dogs are permitted to roam free on the beach between October and April but must be on a lead between May to September.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall businesses positive ahead of tourism season
Businesses in Devon and Cornwall have praised the recent good weather for giving them a boost ahead of the Easter holidays and the 2025 tourism season. The season is worth over £200m to the local economy, according to Visit Devon and Visit there were a number of challenges facing the industry including a rise in national insurance contributions, increased living wage and bills going up, which meant potential holidaymakers might have less to spend. Firms across Devon and Cornwall said they were feeling positive, with some encouraging residents to go out and explore locally. 'Most amazing start' Deb Rosser, pool manager at charity Friends of Bude Sea Pool, said: "We've had the most tropical weather we could wish for, the most amazing start for the new season."The volunteer led group relied on people joining as members to help keep the pool open and added: "It's a family, it's a joy to come to work - we all work together because we're all passionate about a giant rock pool."It's 95 years worth of history and we have to ensure as a charity that we have this pool still going in another 95 years time." Lady's Mile Holiday Park in Dawlish Warren has seen a big rush in bookings during the start of April, which it put down to the good Brown from the resort, said: "In 2023 we had snow at this time of the year and in 2024 it rained for about six months."The sun in March has massively helped the holidays."He added: "Currently, we're about 17% up on last year, so you can see the impact the weather has had." 'More optimistic' Sue Jewell, chair of the South East Cornwall Tourism Association, said that this year was shaping up to be better than previous ones."It's a little bit more optimistic than it started - it's quietly picking up but not quite at the pre-Covid levels yet."Many of our members are not yet full to capacity, but we're just so grateful that this sunshine is bringing people in."Ms Jewell said: "I think there's a perception, and I would say it is wrong, that we are expensive, there's a lot of deals put out to go abroad and after Covid, a lot of people feel like they are owed a holiday abroad." Tourism leaders said that short breaks were key and Visit Devon was trying to encourage people close to the area to come or stay somewhere Everton, director of Visit Devon, said: "We're targeting within a sort of two or three hour radius of Devon to bring visitors down, but also we're talking to the local people."We're asking people to explore what's on their doorstep."So it may be you live in South Devon, but actually let's go and stay in Croyde, Saunton or somewhere in North Devon." The UK's largest outdoor waterpark was making its final preparations before opening on Good Friday, but bosses said that good weather now, meant good business Lees from Splashdown waterpark in Paignton said: "We find that on sunny days people book, even when booking a date in July or August. "I think that people get in the spirit of 'summer's coming' - so for us it's really good, even if it's a few weeks before we open."The weather's good and people are booking, which is just excellent."
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South West businesses fear big hit from National Insurance rise
Some business owners in Devon and Cornwall are worried a hike in National Insurance (NI) payments paid by employers could be "a hammer blow".NI contributions paid by employers will rise from 13.8% to 15% from Sunday, with the threshold traders have to start paying the tax on salaries dropping from £9,100 per year to £5, those criticising the move was Natalie Moore, from the Pickwick Inn at St Issey near Padstow, who said traders were already facing "crippling" government said it had taken "the necessary decisions on tax to stabilise the economy" and the changes would eventually raise £25bn per year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had said among the changes were a rise in the employment allowance, which allows firms to reduce their NI liability, from £5,000 to £10, her situation, Ms Moore said the changes would cost more than £40,000, with staffing being the biggest financial hit."People sometimes ask us, 'how can you charge that much for the food?', but it's not the food, it's the people serving you or washing up where the cost comes," she said. "It's another hammer blow at a time when energy prices are crippling... the cost of living crisis is taking a huge hit not just hospitality, but on everything."Food prices are through the roof and it's a time when you really can't pass it on to the customer because disposal income is pretty much non-existent for lots of people." 'Stumbling block' Padstow Boatyard owner Will Claxton said the changes would make a "big difference" but in a negative Claxton said he already paid his staff more than the living wage, currently at £12.21 for over-21s, but added he would not be able to give pay rises due to the said the hike was a "stumbling block" and doubted whether he would be able to take on any apprentices this year."We desperately, desperately need to train up some skill in this country, but now that's just been made a lot more difficult," he said."As a business owner, it feels like the government see as driving around in Range Rovers going to play golf."But actually, we're really hardworking people who are really just trying to keep people employed and keep things going." Sally Everton, director of Visit Devon, said a lot of tourism bosses in the county had told her the NI changes would affect their ability to invest in their businesses or employing seasonal staff."Some people have said they might be able to limp through the summer, but whether it's viable to continue is a real concern," she said."The government's policy is growth, but this is not going to help growth across our sector, so it's very short-sighted." Jeff Goodwin, owner of Jeff Goodwin Hair in Exeter, said his business would not be affected too much due to the size of his salon, which has seven said the changes would have a wider impact on the industry and some salon's would salon owner of 41 years said a bigger concern were costs such as VAT and product prices."Keeping up with that and still managing to balance the books, if we put the prices up and pass it on to the customer, then they might comes less often or not come at all," he said."So we have to strike a balance all the time between absorbing costs and passing them on to the client." 'Creating opportunities' The government said it appreciated the "vital importance" of small businesses to the UK economy, adding it had achieved a "great deal" since the last general election.A spokesperson said: "We delivered a once-in-a-parliament Budget that took necessary decisions on tax to stabilise the public finances, including the NHS which has now seen waiting lists fall five months in a row."We are now focused on creating opportunities for businesses to compete and access the finance they need to scale, export and break into new markets."
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Campsites hopeful of busy Easter amid National Insurance rise
The owners of two campsites in Devon have said they are hopeful of a busy Easter but are concerned about National Insurance increases for employers coming in next year Visit Devon said high rainfall and the cost of living crisis contributed to a 15% decline in visitor numbers compared with Scott from Cofton Holidays in Dawlish said good weather during the spring has seen 25% better bookings for Easter this year compared with 2024, but she faced a £200,000 increase in National Insurance Scott said the National Insurance increase for a workforce ranging from180 to 220 people in the summer "is coming in as one big hit" and "we're finding very difficult". 'Massive difference' In the budget in October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced employers' National Insurance contributions would rise in April from 13.8% to 15% on earnings above £ threshold at which employers start paying the tax on salaries will be reduced from £9,100 per year to £5,000. The Employers Allowance, which businesses can claim back, is increasing from £5,000 to £10, Scott said: "It's going to make a massive difference on what we spend on our wages. The budget's going up massively." She said it will knock the amount they can invest in the business and is likely to affect smaller companies even more."I think it's quite short sighted. I do feel that tourism isn't greatly supported."She said: "It just pushes up prices."People perhaps aren't spending as much as they used to."They're more careful with the money in their pocket." Bridget Trewin from the family-run Westacott Farm Camping, on the north Devon coast at Abbotsham, added: "It's not all about putting the prices up."I'd rather keep our prices where they are, fairly lowish and get more people in, because then it makes the atmosphere so much nicer."If you put the prices up, you don't gain anything at the end."She said the camp site has already been full for several weekends this year and the good weather has helped bookings.
