UK tourist spots tell ‘selfish’ people to keep away to avoid coronavirus spread
Parts of the UK tourist industry have hit out at ‘selfish’ people who visited parks and seaside resorts at the weekend – defying Government advice to practice social distancing.
There are also concerns that second-home owners are choosing to self-isolate at their countryside properties.
The outcry has led health secretary Matt Hancock to say people should not go to holiday and caravan parks to self-isolate, amid warnings local services would now be put under extra pressure.
Skegness dentist Dr Mitchell Clark warned of a ‘disaster waiting to happen’ as thousands flocked to the Lincolnshire resort at the weekend. Many cafes and arcades opened for trade.
That was despite the fact the Prime Minister asked for eating establishments and pubs to close on Friday night, except for providing take-outs.
The dentist described Skegness as ‘looking like it does on a busy summer day’.
"I view these actions as massively, massively socially irresponsible. I personally think that those involved should be ashamed of themselves," he said.
"Now is the time for us all to come together, to stay at home bar essential trips, to look after people and to do the right thing."
He warned that the schools being closed and the caravan parks being open would bring an ‘enormous influx’ of visitors into the resort next week.
Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s police and crime commissioner, has also said the town’s caravan sites and arcades need to be closed.
West Wittering beach in Sussex has shut, while police in Cumbria warned tourists not to travel to the Lake District.
Cornwall has become the first major UK tourism destination to tell visitors to stay away until the coronavirus crisis is over.
Visit Cornwall said: "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."
It added: "Given the fast escalating situation, Visit Cornwall believes that a holiday or short break should be deemed as non-essential travel.
"This would avoid the confusion that currently exists and mean that customers’ personal travel insurance should reimburse visitors who choose to cancel rather than postpone their holiday.
"We are asking people to postpone visiting Cornwall until a later date, when they will find Cornwall the same beautiful and welcoming place."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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