Open for tourists / visitors or not?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the Independent

Devon remains open to visitors, as does Blackpool:

Visit Devon is telling prospective tourists: “Devon is very much open to visitors and we invite you to come and walk across our beautiful countryside, get some fresh air on our stunning beaches and enjoy our county by remaining aware of social distancing and protecting yourselves and your family by regularly washing your hands.”

Tourist destinations elsewhere in Britain are still seeking to attract visitors. For example, Visit Blackpool says: “The resort remains very much open for business.

Scotland is open and expecting a downturn

Visit Scotland says: “In light of Covid-19, it’s unlikely we’ll be welcoming as many visitors as our friendly, passionate and unique country deserves.

“If you are planning a trip to Scotland in the next few months ... make sure you check with your travel and accommodation providers before travelling.”

Cornwall, however, wants visitors to stay away

Visit Cornwall published a statement saying: “Visitors should not come to Cornwall at this time, in order to slow the spread of the virus, to protect themselves, as well as the communities of Cornwall.”

And the Welsh don't even want ... well, I'll let you read it:

The Plaid Cymru leader in Westminster, Liz Saville Roberts MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), has written to the health secretary urging him “to issue an immediate no-travel directive”. There are concerns that second-home owners are choosing to self-isolate at their properties in Wales, potentially adding to pressures on overstretched rural health services.

Wiltshire passes the decision to the traveller - not in the article but from the VisitWiltshire website and that is the same advise as the Great West Way - hardly a surprise as VisitWiltshire heads that operation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON COVID-19

If you are travelling to Wiltshire, please abide by the current government guidance in regards to the developing COVID-19 situation

[stuving]

And the Welsh don't even want ... well, I'll let you read it:

The Plaid Cymru leader in Westminster, Liz Saville Roberts MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), has written to the health secretary urging him “to issue an immediate no-travel directive”. There are concerns that second-home owners are choosing to self-isolate at their properties in Wales, potentially adding to pressures on overstretched rural health services.

Not an imaginary concern, given the extent to which it's happened from northern Italy to the south. In Brittany some islands have been declared closed to outsiders (including those with holiday homes) by the local prefect. No doubt we'll see more of this - both fleeing and trying to stop it - after all, it happened in mediaeval plagues.

[Marlburian]

Driving in the car this afternoon, I half-heard a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) commercial with the Famous Five theme, encouraging people to use the train to visit Cardiff and tourist attractions in London. (Obviously the slot had been booked a while ago.)

[PhilWakely]

From the Independent

Devon remains open to visitors, as does Blackpool:

Visit Devon is telling prospective tourists: “Devon is very much open to visitors and we invite you to come and walk across our beautiful countryside, get some fresh air on our stunning beaches and enjoy our county by remaining aware of social distancing and protecting yourselves and your family by regularly washing your hands.”

Tourist destinations elsewhere in Britain are still seeking to attract visitors. For example, Visit Blackpool says: “The resort remains very much open for business.

I shall be very controversial - Devon does not object to 'Day visitors', but we don't want hordes of visitors flocking to campsites and second homes to self-isolate. Devon's hospitals need to be kept for Devon residents. What happens if half-way through a week's break in a hotel/caravan, a visitor goes down with the virus and needs to self-isolate beyond the end-date of their stay?

[ellendune]

I am not sure that these places should remain open for business. 

A country walk not far from home is one thing but mass tourism to resorts is quite another.  Perhaps the absence of pubs, restaurants etc. will put a stop to it.

[ellendune]

Update - National Trust on twitter says it is now closing its parks and gardens as well and encourage us to stay local. 

We’ve taken the decision to close our parks and gardens to restrict the spread of coronavirus. Our countryside and coastal locations remain open with parking charges waived, but we encourage people to stay local and observe social distancing.

[grahame]

Melksham, this Saturday night

[MVR S&T]

I don't imagine Melksham is any busier than my local town of Ringwood on a Saturday night, and Ringwood looks like that usually!

[Surrey 455]

Driving in the car this afternoon, I half-heard a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) commercial with the Famous Five theme, encouraging people to use the train to visit Cardiff and tourist attractions in London. (Obviously the slot had been booked a while ago.)

I'm amazed that I am still seeing programmes on ITV & ITV3 sponsored by Cruise ships companies. You'd think that the channels would try to get the sponsorship deferred to another time.

[grahame]

I don't imagine Melksham is any busier than my local town of Ringwood on a Saturday night, and Ringwood looks like that usually!

It's usually much busier ...  Melksham hasd a nightlife with the Market Place being a key point.  Even in Winter taxis and people milling from The Tavern and The King's Arms and a bustling set of takeaways across down King's Street.  Road traffic too. I would agree that without a "before" picture either here or in your mind (i.e - if you don't know it), hard to appreciate the scale of change; I've posted the picture locally on Facebook and it's causes a stir.

f.y.i. - Lisa, Billy and I are "hunkered down" at home;  exercise walks at quiet times and nearby, fresh food shopping as we have only a limited horde, and the occasional takeaway which was last night's mission.

[REVUpminster]

I expect all the action and night life is in Sainsbury or Tesco. Saturday morning I saw the first person wearing a mask in Sainsbury Paignton. By the evening they had introduced yellow lines to keep people two metres apart at the checkout.

[PhilWakely]

I expect all the action and night life is in Sainsbury or Tesco. Saturday morning I saw the first person wearing a mask in Sainsbury Paignton. By the evening they had introduced yellow lines to keep people two metres apart at the checkout.

Last evening, whilst waiting to pick up my daughter from her job at a local supermarket, I watched a group of about a dozen young people, complete with cans, gathered in a launderette.   

[TaplowGreen]

From the Independent

Devon remains open to visitors, as does Blackpool:

Visit Devon is telling prospective tourists: “Devon is very much open to visitors and we invite you to come and walk across our beautiful countryside, get some fresh air on our stunning beaches and enjoy our county by remaining aware of social distancing and protecting yourselves and your family by regularly washing your hands.”

Tourist destinations elsewhere in Britain are still seeking to attract visitors. For example, Visit Blackpool says: “The resort remains very much open for business.

Devon's hospitals need to be kept for Devon residents.

Ouch.

I really hope that view is confined to a minority and not the way attitudes are going to develop as it has some really unpleasant historical connotations-and  I speak as a Plymothian/Devonian but also a Briton.

I sincerely hope that if I was unfortunate enough to be taken Ill anywhere in the country I'd be taken care of irrespective of where I live, and I'd hope that applies to all universally.

[PhilWakely]

From the Independent

Devon remains open to visitors, as does Blackpool:

Visit Devon is telling prospective tourists: “Devon is very much open to visitors and we invite you to come and walk across our beautiful countryside, get some fresh air on our stunning beaches and enjoy our county by remaining aware of social distancing and protecting yourselves and your family by regularly washing your hands.”

Tourist destinations elsewhere in Britain are still seeking to attract visitors. For example, Visit Blackpool says: “The resort remains very much open for business.

Devon's hospitals need to be kept for Devon residents.

Ouch.

I really hope that view is confined to a minority and not the way attitudes are going to develop as it has some really unpleasant historical connotations-and  I speak as a Plymothian/Devonian but also a Briton.

I sincerely hope that if I was unfortunate enough to be taken Ill anywhere in the country I'd be taken care of irrespective of where I live, and I'd hope that applies to all universally.

OK I didn't put that very well - what I meant was that hospitals will be overwhelmed by just the local population - wherever that may be - we don't want to be inundated with visitors - particularly when the official advice is DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

[grahame]

Devon's hospitals need to be kept for Devon residents.

Ouch.

I really hope that view is confined to a minority and not the way attitudes are going to develop as it has some really unpleasant historical connotations-and  I speak as a Plymothian/Devonian but also a Briton.

I sincerely hope that if I was unfortunate enough to be taken Ill anywhere in the country I'd be taken care of irrespective of where I live, and I'd hope that applies to all universally.

OK I didn't put that very well - what I meant was that hospitals will be overwhelmed by just the local population - wherever that may be - we don't want to be inundated with visitors - particularly when the official advice is DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

Gentlemen - Thank you for sorting that (I think you have) between you.  We are in for interesting times and difficult decisions.  Wide ranging views, oft passionately held, on key lifechanging matters could lead to much more tension between members than is the Coffee Shop norm - I'm personally familiar with that from another forum I helped moderate before this one, and we have others here too who have backgrounds who can help with that.