The foot-and-mouth epidemic could have a drastic effect on
rural tourism, both the English Tourism Council (ETC) and the Countryside
Agency have warned.
The ETC said in a statement: “The foot-and-mouth crisis is
clearly beginning to have an effect on countryside tourism, but the immediate
priority must be to end the current crisis as quickly as possible.”
It added: “February and March are comparatively quiet times
for countryside tourism, but if the crisis were to continue until Easter and
beyond this would obviously be a matter of concern.”
The ETC has issued advice to rural hotels and guesthouses on
what to do if guests cancel their bookings as a result of the crisis.
Countryside Agency chief executive Richard Wakeford said:
“The knock-on effect is already showing in the closure of tourist attractions,
and the cancellation of popular events and lost business in a whole range of
rural enterprise.”
Tourism is worth £12b a year to the English countryside, the
agency said, £9b of which is spent on day trips. It supports 340,000 jobs in
rural England and underpins 25,000 mostly small businesses.
Wakeford added: “If the Cheltenham Gold Cup is cancelled,
it’s not just the racing industry who will lose out but hundreds of other small
businesses throughout Gloucestershire who benefit from the influx of
high-spending visitors.
“If people need to stay out of the countryside through the
Easter holidays, the knock-on effect could damage the rural economy to the tune
of £2b.”
Countryside around the UK has been closed to the public as a
result of the outbreak. The National Trust has closed virtually all of its
properties and the Forestry Commission has closed all its forests.
On Dartmoor, all public land, footpaths and bridleways have
been closed. Public access to most other National Parks has been suspended.
Web links:
English Tourism
Council
Countryside Agency