Can We Get Tourism Right?

Tourism is Cornwall’s largest private sector employer, supporting 1 in 5 jobs in the Duchy and making up 15% of Cornwall’s local economy. Yet, its seasonal nature creates challenges. During peak times, Cornwall’s population can swell fivefold, putting huge pressure on services like the NHS, water infrastructure, roads, and policing.

Despite this, Cornwall does not receive the funding it needs. Cross-party Cornish MPs have long called for ‘fair funding’ to reflect the unique challenges of being a rural, coastal region with a seasonal population surge.

I brought Cornish tourism leaders to Westminster for a roundtable with Cornwall’s MPs. We had an honest, constructive conversation about making tourism more resilient and sustainable: economically, socially, and environmentally.

We explored issues including:

• Fair wages and secure working conditions.

• The potential for a tourism tax that wouldn’t hurt local businesses but would include online booking platforms.

• A holiday let registration scheme, supported by local providers, to improve safety standards and track where holiday properties are concentrated.

Following the roundtable, I met with Tourism Minister Chris Bryant, who confirmed the Government plans to trial a national registration scheme and look to close the council tax loophole for second homes (Cornwall has more holiday lets and second homes than people on the housing waiting list - over 25,000). Read more about this in my column here.