A mixture of wet weather, the cost of living crisis and people holidaying abroad means estimated tourism numbers in Devon and Cornwall are down for half-term week, a tourism boss has said.
Visit Cornwall chairman Malcolm Bell said numbers for tourism in Devon and Cornwall were expected to be between 15% and 20% down on a normal year.
He added people coming for trips during the recent half-term holiday was expected to be about 102,000 and those staying nights estimated at about 495,000.
However Rick Turner, who owns attraction the Big Sheep in Devon, said he was seeing “very good numbers” this week.
‘Low confidence’
Mr Turner said he was hoping to be between 10% and 20% up by the end of the week, and overall up on last year.
He cited local people visiting the attraction as a reason his numbers may have been up.
He said: “People are looking to give themselves a treat this half-term.
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