Tourism award winners overcome 'difficult year'

It's a blustery cold day in Widegates near Looe where Richard and Emma Liddle run their glamping business but the couple are wrangling with fairy lights for a festive outdoor bar.

"Enticing guests and locals out of season is one of the things we try and do, along with always providing extras like meals cooked by local chefs," said Ms Liddle.

The seven cabins the couple run all have sea views and are fully kitted out in what they describe as a "high end" glamping experience which earned them the "Winner of Winners" at the Cornwall Tourism Awards last month.

But, as others in the tourism industry have found, 2024 has not been the easiest year.

Ms Liddle lists poor summer weather, uncertainty over the General Election and the cost of living as challenges.

"We worked so hard this year and hardly took a day off. Normally by June we're fully booked for the summer holidays, but for the last two weeks of August we were having to take one or two night stays," she said.

"We are always thinking what more can we do to adapt to the changing tourism environment. We keep going and just don't give up."

Mr Liddle believes there was "pent up foreign holiday demand" following the pandemic which affected this year's bookings. But he is hopeful people will "ditch the airport scenario and holiday more locally again".

"I think there's been perhaps a bit of over-tourism post Covid and its ruffled a few feathers but I don't think it will continue in the future.

"There's plenty of tourism to go around and I believe people will start to return to Cornwall shortly, " he said.

Another award winner is Darren Wills, landlord of the Old Inn and Restaurant at St Breward, perched on the top of Bodmin Moor.

He said it was sometimes a struggle to get people in the door and it was necessary to promote and advertise hospitality businesses.

Mr Wills has run the pub for 25 years and said he had weathered two recessions, a smoking ban and the pandemic.

He said the cost of living was proving the latest challenge and credits his award to his team of 35 staff and their focus on quality.

"It's no good cutting corners in business these days, you have to supply the best in customer service and your products," he said.

"Not only on the bar but in the kitchens and have a good staff behind you."

Last month two long-running Cornish parks, Flambards and Dairyland, closed because of financial pressures.

But at Lappa Valley Steam Railway, the managing director Keith Southwell said it had been a good year.

The family attraction near Newquay unveiled a new train in February and won bronze in the Large Visitor Attraction category.

"It is all about investing in your business, having great people around you and listening to what your customers want. It isn't really about value for money - it's value for quality," he said.

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