Do you live in a tourist hot spot?
Discussion
I'm a Cornishman who happens to work in the tourist industry in our wonderful duchy. Whilst I can see why the influx of tourists can lead to reactions like that, I have to ask - have you ever been on holiday? Like, anywhere? Thought about how the locals regard you?
Sure, sometimes there can a projection of a sense of entitlement from some visitors (or even completely ignoring / disregarding the people working to support their holiday), but then if I was living in London, commuting by tube, breathing filthy air and constantly on-the-go, I might not stop to think that my two weeks of down time actually meant two weeks of stress for the locals.
I know I've been places where I don't know the local traffic lore. I've been spooked (and slow) on account of driving a hire car from the wrong seat and on the wrong side of the road. And sure, it can be frustrating when the commute takes longer than usual (though let's face it... it's still not like any major city), but at the end of the day people pay hundreds of pounds a week to visit our home. Doesn't that make us the privileged ones?
What's happened to old school Cornish hospitality towards "those less fortunate than us"? If it's that bad, maybe Cornwall really isn't for you. Whether you're local or an incomer or emmet (I hate those terms, btw - what's wrong with "person"?), there are plenty of people in the world who'd gladly swap places.
Sure, sometimes there can a projection of a sense of entitlement from some visitors (or even completely ignoring / disregarding the people working to support their holiday), but then if I was living in London, commuting by tube, breathing filthy air and constantly on-the-go, I might not stop to think that my two weeks of down time actually meant two weeks of stress for the locals.
I know I've been places where I don't know the local traffic lore. I've been spooked (and slow) on account of driving a hire car from the wrong seat and on the wrong side of the road. And sure, it can be frustrating when the commute takes longer than usual (though let's face it... it's still not like any major city), but at the end of the day people pay hundreds of pounds a week to visit our home. Doesn't that make us the privileged ones?
What's happened to old school Cornish hospitality towards "those less fortunate than us"? If it's that bad, maybe Cornwall really isn't for you. Whether you're local or an incomer or emmet (I hate those terms, btw - what's wrong with "person"?), there are plenty of people in the world who'd gladly swap places.
Mexman said:
It's mostly not kids and students doing these jobs though and you haven't repeated any point.
You have made a new point accepting that these types of job are very poorly paid and workers often have no protection from their employers who are generally from other parts of the world.
My wife is 51 yrs old and works in an upmarket Truro hotel.
The hotel she works for is owned by 2 multi millionaire property investing brothers from the home counties who milk all of the business profits back away from the county.
The only money that stays in Cornwall is the very minimal wages that they pay their overworked staff.
Most young Cornish people have no choice but to live with their parents until the day they die, or move out of the County to live and earn up country elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the population of Cornwall is aging with no young blood to replace it, because they simply cannot afford to live or buy or even rent here.
Tourism is important, but so is quality of life to the residents.
Cornwall is not an amusement park that some people seem to think it is, people live, work and survive here through some brutal winters, come summer, yes the influx of visitors is welcome to certain businesses and their income.
Please do visit, please enjoy your holiday and contribute to the local economy, but also appreciate that the people who live and work here need to get around and work also, and keep the economy moving for the other 51 weeks of the year that you are not here.
Certain places are just no go areas in the summer, you cannot get anywhere near them, St Ives, Newquay, Padstow, Mevagissey, etc.
If I need to get to any of these places in the summer, it's just a nightmare, and the parking charges if you can get one are extortionate.
It really is just a little too much at certain times of the year to even bother venturing out of the house.
True of many a tourist destination I'm sure up and down the country, but I suppose because of Cornwall's 'funnel' shape, everyone just gets forced into a smaller and smaller area!
Are you getting your replies mixed up as I'm not sure why you seem to be disagreeing with me?You have made a new point accepting that these types of job are very poorly paid and workers often have no protection from their employers who are generally from other parts of the world.
My wife is 51 yrs old and works in an upmarket Truro hotel.
The hotel she works for is owned by 2 multi millionaire property investing brothers from the home counties who milk all of the business profits back away from the county.
The only money that stays in Cornwall is the very minimal wages that they pay their overworked staff.
Most young Cornish people have no choice but to live with their parents until the day they die, or move out of the County to live and earn up country elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the population of Cornwall is aging with no young blood to replace it, because they simply cannot afford to live or buy or even rent here.
Tourism is important, but so is quality of life to the residents.
Cornwall is not an amusement park that some people seem to think it is, people live, work and survive here through some brutal winters, come summer, yes the influx of visitors is welcome to certain businesses and their income.
Please do visit, please enjoy your holiday and contribute to the local economy, but also appreciate that the people who live and work here need to get around and work also, and keep the economy moving for the other 51 weeks of the year that you are not here.
Certain places are just no go areas in the summer, you cannot get anywhere near them, St Ives, Newquay, Padstow, Mevagissey, etc.
If I need to get to any of these places in the summer, it's just a nightmare, and the parking charges if you can get one are extortionate.
It really is just a little too much at certain times of the year to even bother venturing out of the house.
True of many a tourist destination I'm sure up and down the country, but I suppose because of Cornwall's 'funnel' shape, everyone just gets forced into a smaller and smaller area!
We both appear to have the same opinion that the social and economic disadvantages that tourism brings to an area and it's resident population far outweigh the economic ''advantage'' of a few crappy part time, minimum wage, seasonal jobs which provide nothing more than pocket money or pin money for kids or semi retirees such as your wife
I live and work in an extremely busy tourist area. Each and every week of the year tourists clog up the transport system, dither along already busy streets and generally cause nuisance and vexation to us locals who are desperately trying to earn a crust.
London without tourists would he blissful.
London without tourists would he blissful.
Mark Benson said:
Yorkshire Dales here.
We need the tourists for the local economy to function, but March to October can get unbearable thanks to the Baby Boomers in their gigantic motorhomes.
Not only do they travel the roads at 30mph everywhere, but then they stop in the villages and spend 20 minutes trying to park the thing just so they can make a cup of tea (so no income for the tea shop then) and enjoy the view.
They're not the only ones, but by God they've increased in number considerably in the last few years and it seems to be getting worse.
We pick our brand new replacement one up on Thursday.We need the tourists for the local economy to function, but March to October can get unbearable thanks to the Baby Boomers in their gigantic motorhomes.
Not only do they travel the roads at 30mph everywhere, but then they stop in the villages and spend 20 minutes trying to park the thing just so they can make a cup of tea (so no income for the tea shop then) and enjoy the view.
They're not the only ones, but by God they've increased in number considerably in the last few years and it seems to be getting worse.
Grassington, Leyburn, Hawes ,Masham and Aysgarth are among our favourites.
NDA said:
I used to live in Woolsery, and worked in Torrington.
Just spent a week in a cottage a mile from Woolsery. interesting story about the local small chip shop:-https://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/internet-...
Lord Marylebone said:
Business is really booming in the Lake District.
International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
Good job Alfred Wainwright can't read that, his pipe would explode International visitors have increased massively over the last few years.
As an example, numbers of Chinese tourists have increased by 286% since 2016.
84% of businesses in the Lakes have reported an increase in international visitors, and spending by those visitors since 2016.
There are now over 47 million visitors per year, and the number is growing faster than ever.
The Lakes used to be a place where British people turned up between May and September, camped or stayed in a B&B, ate sandwiches and went walking.
The place was deserted during October to April, and people used to joke that it was only during the winter that locals used to come out of hibernation.
That has all completely changed now.
Tourists are pouring in all year round now, coming here for winter and Christmas etc.
The spending habits have changed as well. We now have numerous Michelin starred restaurants, loads of absolutely top end Spa and Boutique hotels, and absolutely terrific bars, pubs and other eateries.
The food, drink, accommodation, shopping and entertainment in the Lakes has improved beyond words in probably around the last 15 years.
Money is pouring in.
In summer, take a seat on the terrace out the front of the bar at Low Wood Bay, looking over lake Windermere, the Marina and lakeside road, and watch Ferrari’s and other exotica burble past.
There will always be someone moaning that it’s too busy, but the advantages of tourism absolutely outweigh the disadvantages.
(Mind you, he was partially responsible for most of the increase in traffic)
schmalex said:
We went to Bournemouth today. What a s
thole the town centre is.
I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
Changed into what?thole the town centre is. I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
For some reason I've been to Poole a hundred times. Never been to the centre of Bournemouth in my entire life.
mike74 said:
Mexman said:
It's mostly not kids and students doing these jobs though and you haven't repeated any point.
You have made a new point accepting that these types of job are very poorly paid and workers often have no protection from their employers who are generally from other parts of the world.
My wife is 51 yrs old and works in an upmarket Truro hotel.
The hotel she works for is owned by 2 multi millionaire property investing brothers from the home counties who milk all of the business profits back away from the county.
The only money that stays in Cornwall is the very minimal wages that they pay their overworked staff.
Most young Cornish people have no choice but to live with their parents until the day they die, or move out of the County to live and earn up country elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the population of Cornwall is aging with no young blood to replace it, because they simply cannot afford to live or buy or even rent here.
Tourism is important, but so is quality of life to the residents.
Cornwall is not an amusement park that some people seem to think it is, people live, work and survive here through some brutal winters, come summer, yes the influx of visitors is welcome to certain businesses and their income.
Please do visit, please enjoy your holiday and contribute to the local economy, but also appreciate that the people who live and work here need to get around and work also, and keep the economy moving for the other 51 weeks of the year that you are not here.
Certain places are just no go areas in the summer, you cannot get anywhere near them, St Ives, Newquay, Padstow, Mevagissey, etc.
If I need to get to any of these places in the summer, it's just a nightmare, and the parking charges if you can get one are extortionate.
It really is just a little too much at certain times of the year to even bother venturing out of the house.
True of many a tourist destination I'm sure up and down the country, but I suppose because of Cornwall's 'funnel' shape, everyone just gets forced into a smaller and smaller area!
Are you getting your replies mixed up as I'm not sure why you seem to be disagreeing with me?You have made a new point accepting that these types of job are very poorly paid and workers often have no protection from their employers who are generally from other parts of the world.
My wife is 51 yrs old and works in an upmarket Truro hotel.
The hotel she works for is owned by 2 multi millionaire property investing brothers from the home counties who milk all of the business profits back away from the county.
The only money that stays in Cornwall is the very minimal wages that they pay their overworked staff.
Most young Cornish people have no choice but to live with their parents until the day they die, or move out of the County to live and earn up country elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the population of Cornwall is aging with no young blood to replace it, because they simply cannot afford to live or buy or even rent here.
Tourism is important, but so is quality of life to the residents.
Cornwall is not an amusement park that some people seem to think it is, people live, work and survive here through some brutal winters, come summer, yes the influx of visitors is welcome to certain businesses and their income.
Please do visit, please enjoy your holiday and contribute to the local economy, but also appreciate that the people who live and work here need to get around and work also, and keep the economy moving for the other 51 weeks of the year that you are not here.
Certain places are just no go areas in the summer, you cannot get anywhere near them, St Ives, Newquay, Padstow, Mevagissey, etc.
If I need to get to any of these places in the summer, it's just a nightmare, and the parking charges if you can get one are extortionate.
It really is just a little too much at certain times of the year to even bother venturing out of the house.
True of many a tourist destination I'm sure up and down the country, but I suppose because of Cornwall's 'funnel' shape, everyone just gets forced into a smaller and smaller area!
We both appear to have the same opinion that the social and economic disadvantages that tourism brings to an area and it's resident population far outweigh the economic ''advantage'' of a few crappy part time, minimum wage, seasonal jobs which provide nothing more than pocket money or pin money for kids or semi retirees such as your wife
It’s easy to blame tourists for these ills but what of those ‘locals’ in previous generations who sold out to the incomers? They were happy to take their London money at massively inflated prices for shoeboxes for their immediate gratification, without a second thought that they were (possibly without realizing) screwing the upcoming generations who would not be able to afford to live there. Nobody blames them. Blame the tourist.
Cornwall isn’t unique in this problem. Reading where I live has house prices completely out of kilter with average wages because it is in the affluent South East, commutable to London. Just because we don’t have beaches and coastline doesn’t mean we don’t face the same problems,
The only thing that ‘could’ correct it is a massive disincentive towards second home ownership, but that would invoke a lot of hostility. We are beyond redressing that balance, I fear. So the only thing to do is accept it and adapt. That means if you’re a kid in Cornwall try not to end up on minimum wage. Maybe accept that Tourism is a cash cow and get on board with making some money from it. Lots of local entrepreneurs do, in my experience.
I don't live in a tourist hotspot but I do live on or every near one of the roads into Snowdonia. All I can say is after watching the road yesterday afternoon and so far this morning, north wales is almost full. The number of Motorhomes, caravans and "adventurists" seems higher than normal for easter weekend.
The guy with the land rover combo is the best I have seen so far, followed him as I was going home yesterday. One defender, one of those tent things on the roof, 2 road bikes, 2 mountain bikes and a trailer with a jetski and 2 canoes, bet his wife wishes she could go on holiday to the med instead of Wales.
The guy with the land rover combo is the best I have seen so far, followed him as I was going home yesterday. One defender, one of those tent things on the roof, 2 road bikes, 2 mountain bikes and a trailer with a jetski and 2 canoes, bet his wife wishes she could go on holiday to the med instead of Wales.
bloomen said:
schmalex said:
We went to Bournemouth today. What a sthole the town centre is.
I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
Changed into what?thole the town centre is. I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
For some reason I've been to Poole a hundred times. Never been to the centre of Bournemouth in my entire life.
schmalex said:
We went to Bournemouth today. What a sthole the town centre is.
I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
I lived in Bournemouth in 1972 (When it was in Hampshire)...it was a lot nicer then in the town centre.thole the town centre is. I grew up near there and have fond memories of the place but it’s changed beyond recognition in the 20 years or so since I moved away
The Beachfront from Boscombe to Sandbanks is lovely though.
Plenty to do and see in the area for tourists.
ARHarh said:
The guy with the land rover combo is the best I have seen so far, followed him as I was going home yesterday. One defender, one of those tent things on the roof, 2 road bikes, 2 mountain bikes and a trailer with a jetski and 2 canoes, bet his wife wishes she could go on holiday to the med instead of Wales.
It’s all a case of one man’s meat really, maybe the Med is anathema to Land Rover guy’s wife, whereas if my wife was standing on the beach at South Padre Island TX, nursing a Mai-Tai, while the Gulf of Mexico was lapping over her toes, and I said, “Better top up the sun cream Red, you’re not in Llandudno”, she’d say, “And if I have my way, I never will be.”Just popped out after spending all day cleaning/treating the leather in the X-Type.
Totally forgot it was Good Friday, because seaside, everyone has descended for fish and chips and the beach. Traffic bumper to bumper and of course because I'd just treated my seats I took the Volvo. The Volvo has a clutch. My knee hurts now.
Still love living here, and it's good to see people spending their pennies in my town. Not to chuffed with the ones who have shunned the reasonably priced parking and blocked all the side streets in Westoe, though.
Totally forgot it was Good Friday, because seaside, everyone has descended for fish and chips and the beach. Traffic bumper to bumper and of course because I'd just treated my seats I took the Volvo. The Volvo has a clutch. My knee hurts now.
Still love living here, and it's good to see people spending their pennies in my town. Not to chuffed with the ones who have shunned the reasonably priced parking and blocked all the side streets in Westoe, though.
FerrousOxide said:
I'm a Cornishman who happens to work in the tourist industry in our wonderful duchy. Whilst I can see why the influx of tourists can lead to reactions like that, I have to ask - have you ever been on holiday? Like, anywhere? Thought about how the locals regard you?
Sure, sometimes there can a projection of a sense of entitlement from some visitors (or even completely ignoring / disregarding the people working to support their holiday), but then if I was living in London, commuting by tube, breathing filthy air and constantly on-the-go, I might not stop to think that my two weeks of down time actually meant two weeks of stress for the locals.
I know I've been places where I don't know the local traffic lore. I've been spooked (and slow) on account of driving a hire car from the wrong seat and on the wrong side of the road. And sure, it can be frustrating when the commute takes longer than usual (though let's face it... it's still not like any major city), but at the end of the day people pay hundreds of pounds a week to visit our home. Doesn't that make us the privileged ones?
What's happened to old school Cornish hospitality towards "those less fortunate than us"? If it's that bad, maybe Cornwall really isn't for you. Whether you're local or an incomer or emmet (I hate those terms, btw - what's wrong with "person"?), there are plenty of people in the world who'd gladly swap places.
Just out of curiosity and i'm not trying to provoke with this, but how come you can cross the bridge at Saltash into Cornwall with no charge but if you go the other way, there is a charge?Sure, sometimes there can a projection of a sense of entitlement from some visitors (or even completely ignoring / disregarding the people working to support their holiday), but then if I was living in London, commuting by tube, breathing filthy air and constantly on-the-go, I might not stop to think that my two weeks of down time actually meant two weeks of stress for the locals.
I know I've been places where I don't know the local traffic lore. I've been spooked (and slow) on account of driving a hire car from the wrong seat and on the wrong side of the road. And sure, it can be frustrating when the commute takes longer than usual (though let's face it... it's still not like any major city), but at the end of the day people pay hundreds of pounds a week to visit our home. Doesn't that make us the privileged ones?
What's happened to old school Cornish hospitality towards "those less fortunate than us"? If it's that bad, maybe Cornwall really isn't for you. Whether you're local or an incomer or emmet (I hate those terms, btw - what's wrong with "person"?), there are plenty of people in the world who'd gladly swap places.
Does that not wind the Cornish up?
It's almost like the Devonians are saying "yes you can go into Cornwall we don't mind. What's that you say? you want to come back? Why yes, you can but that's £1.50 please"
Frank7 said:
It’s all a case of one man’s meat really, maybe the Med is anathema to Land Rover guy’s wife, whereas if my wife was standing on the beach at South Padre Island TX, nursing a Mai-Tai, while the Gulf of Mexico was lapping over her toes, and I said, “Better top up the sun cream Red, you’re not in Llandudno”, she’d say, “And if I have my way, I never will be.”
If you offered me a fortnight in the Maldives or a fortnight in Orkney and Shetland I'd be much more aroused by the latter. Way more to see and do. I guess I could compromise with my non existent wife on the Isle of Wight. If she still feels that leans too far towards me then it's divorce time. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff