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Residents of Cornwall’s renowned seaside towns have frequently lamented the nonstop influx of visitors that swarm their picturesque streets and populate their beaches en masse.
Even though their local economies receive a £2 billion boost each summer, locals have expressed frustrations, describing tourists as a ‘nightmare’ and deeming their communities ‘hell on earth’.
But now, after summers of bashing holidaymakers and begging them to stay away, Cornish locals may have finally got their wish.
Last year Cornwall faced its worst summer visitor numbers in a decade, and this summer is not predicted to be much better.
Several shop owners and locals in St Ives, a highly sought-after location in the county, have reported to the Daily Mail a noticeable slump in profits and a decline in tourist numbers this year.
They point to a mix of anti-tourism feelings, inconsistent weather, the prevalence of second homes, and rising costs as factors pushing critical British tourists to favor international destinations like Spain, Italy, and Greece.
‘You always see people complaining about the tourists but it’s important to use,’ waitress Ella Erijota said.
‘I’ve noticed a massive decline in the amount of visitors this summer and it’s concerning.
‘Cornwall relies on tourism and needs it to survive.’
Last year, Cornwall experienced its lowest summer visitor numbers in a decade, and this summer is not expected to fare any better. Pictured: The rather sparse St Ives Harbour.
Shopkeepers and residents in St Ives, Cornwall’s most esteemed locale, have informed the Daily Mail of a substantial drop in revenue and tourists this year. Pictured: One of the many unfilled streets in St Ives.
Pictured: A crude 6ft long banner – written in black paint on a white board – was held by three people to welcome tourists to Cornwall
Cornish locals claim a perfect storm of anti-tourism sentiment, unreliable weather, second homes and price hikes are pushing the vital British market to overseas rivals. Pictured: An empty beach in St Ives
‘It’s been a lot quieter this year, I’ve definitely noticed a decline in tourism,’ St Ives resident and shop worker Charlotte Cooper said.
Ms Cooper along with several other business owners explained that they had noticed a significant reduction in earnings this summer.
‘I blame overpriced holiday homes for deterring tourists. You can get an all-inclusive holiday abroad for the same price as renting a home here for a couple days.
‘And the money people do spend on bnbs isn’t even going into the town, it’s going to owners elsewhere.’
She added: ‘There’s hardly any jobs outside of tourism, if you haven’t made enough money over the summer you’re struggling the rest of the year.
The slump in visitors in Cornwall echoes similar trends in Spain where a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests have been ‘scaring away visitors’.
The wave of protests gripping the country have led to a fall in spending, declining nightlife and crumbling businesses.
Skylar Michael worries this is a fate that Cornwall could begin to face.
Pictured: Skylar Michael (left) and Ella Erijota (right) – they have noticed a significant drop in visitors this summer
Pictured: An anti-emmets message on the sign entering Hayle. Emmets are Cornish for ants – and slang for tourists
Pictured: shopkeeper Ewa Bubczyk, who thinks unreliable weather is the biggest tourist deterrent
‘I’ve noticed a massive decline in tourists and it’s not a good thing, we rely on them,’ she said.
One of the biggest gripes locals have had with the tourism industry in Cornwall is the rise in second-homes purchased by out-of-towners for the purpose of renting them out during the busy season.
The St Ives community believe this has outpriced locals and some of their more ‘traditional’ tourists.
Jess Astle, who works in a beachfront shop, explained: ‘A lot of people now stay outside of St Ives and are day trippers because the price of Air BnBs have shot up.
‘St Ives is outpricing itself with the cost of accommodation and even the price of a meal is outrageous.’
Despite locals declaring a war on tourists after a frenzy of Brits on lads holidays turned the quaint town into ‘Benidorm on steroids’ during the summers where Lockdown restrictions were still in place, Ms Astle said locals were let down when they didn’t visit again.
‘People were also disappointed when tourists didn’t return after Covid,’ she added.
It’s not just the cost of visiting that is deterring visitors from sampling some homemade ice cream on the gleaming peer, it is also the unpredictable nature of British weather.
One of the biggest gripes locals have had with the tourism industry in Cornwall is the rise in second-homes purchased by out-of-towners. Pictured: ‘The Sloop Inn’ a traditional pub in St Ives.
Locals living in Cornwall’s iconic seaside towns have long-complained of relentless crowds invading their quaint streets and landing en-masse on their beaches. Pictured: St Ives
Residents have moaned that holidaymakers were a ‘nightmare’ and made their communities ‘ hell on earth’. Pictured: The Cornish town of St Mawes
‘The weather is a massive reason why people aren’t coming here, people just don’t associate British weather with a summer holiday,’ explained shopkeeper Ewa Bubczyk.
‘There’s nothing to do when it rains, sun is super important. Whereas if you go abroad it’s cheaper and good weather is basically guaranteed.’
On top of that, journeys can take over six hours from urban centres such as London and Manchester, with several transfers required to reach some of Cornwall’s most picturesque locations without your own car.
‘We’re right at the end of the country, a lot of people drive here but even the parking is a nightmare,’ Allison Peters who has worked in St Ives for 33 years told the Daily Mail.
‘We’ve not got modern facilities and it makes it a bit of a logistical nightmare to come here.’
According to South West Business Council (SWBC) 2024 saw Cornwall endure its worst summer visitor numbers for a decade.
SWBC’s chairman, Tim Jones, told the BBC that 17 per cent of bars and restaurants had shut down in the area.
Cornwall’s tourism industry is worth roughly £2 billion annually, or 15 per cent of the local economy, so many people are worried about its decline.
Pictured: Jess Astle, who works in a beachfront shop. She thinks the price of meals and air bnbs is leading to a drop in tourism
In July, Cornwall council called on the government to recognise the area as a ‘fifth nation’ in the UK’ – a notion that many agree with. Pictured: St Ives
Pictured: Allison Peters who has worked in St Ives for 33 years she said the parking is a nightmare
However, others are overjoyed by dwindling tourism.
‘I’d love it if tourism keeps declining,’ a retired resident told the Daily Mail.
‘St Ives has become a victim of its own success, I think from a local point of view a few less people wouldn’t go amiss.
‘Its changed and not for the better, it needs to return to the old way to pre-Covid.’
The struggle felt by locals is only escalating as seven community groups have called for a devolved Cornish parliament as it doesn’t want to be ‘England’s holiday park’.
Meanwhile, in July, Cornwall council called on the government to recognise the area as a ‘fifth nation’ in the UK’ – a notion that many agree with.
But as communities continue to crticise visitors, they risk isolating themselves and feeling the pinch even more.
Andrew George, MP for St Ives said: ‘The post-Covid bounce is well behind us. The trend towards very late bookings has increased.
The unusually good weather during the school holiday kept numbers up to a certain extent, but the trend of recent years can’t be ignored.
‘If Cornwall is to retain the tourism segment of its changing economy, it needs to look closely at the facilities and infrastructure it offers.
‘When you’re on holiday you want to be able to travel and park with ease and not to search endlessly for a decent loo!’
