Early Easter and poor weather impact Devon’s tourism

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Devon Association of Tourist Attractions has reported a notable decline in business, with tourist activity down by as much as 25% over the Easter period. This downturn was attributed to the early occurrence of the holiday coupled with unfavorable weather conditions, according to Josh Haywood, a representative of the association and the general manager of Crealy Theme Park near Exeter. These factors combined to create a challenging season for tourism in the region.

Similarly, the English Riviera BID (ERBID) company noted that tourism businesses in the Torbay area saw a decrease of about 15% in visitor numbers and 10% in spending due to the same issues. The leaders of both organizations expressed hope that summer bookings would rebound with better weather conditions on the horizon.

Haywood commented on the difficulties faced this season, pointing out a 20-25% year-on-year deficit in business and a noticeable reduction in spending by visitors. He highlighted the particularly tough conditions when Easter falls early in the season and is plagued by poor weather, describing it as a recipe for a disappointing Easter across the industry. Furthermore, he mentioned that the inclement weather not only deterred tourists from visiting but also caused those who did visit to cut their stays short and leave Devon prematurely due to the relentless wind and rain.

The adverse conditions also had a significant impact on the staff working at these attractions. Haywood described the environment as challenging for those trying to provide a fun and engaging experience in the midst of harsh weather.

Carolyn Custerton, the chief executive of ERBID, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the prolonged period of wet weather since October and its effect on tourism. She noted that March experienced double the usual rainfall, setting a new record, and pointed out that the ongoing cost of living crisis continued to affect family budgets and spending.

However, there was a silver lining as reported by John Jones, managing director of the Dartmouth Steam Railway. He noted that despite the dismal weather leading up to Easter, the railway managed to attract a good number of visitors. He attributed this resilience to the attraction’s lesser dependency on weather conditions compared to other tourist sites.

This scenario in Devon highlights the significant impact that timing and weather conditions can have on tourism, particularly railway tourism, which often sees fluctuations based on these factors. The experiences this Easter underscore the need for the tourism sector to adapt and possibly diversify its offerings to mitigate the effects of such variables on visitor numbers and revenue. As the summer approaches, there is an optimistic outlook that improved weather will help revive the tourism industry in Devon, with railway tourism potentially leading the recovery if conditions become more favorable.

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