Lockdown: Cornwall sees '£25m loss' over February half term
Tourism bosses say they are now fearful about the Easter holidays
It has been revealed that Cornwall's economy will have lost out on around £25 million over the February half term.
That is the message from tourism bosses as hospitality businesses have not been allowed to open during the third national lockdown.
Malcolm Bell heads up Visit Cornwall.
He has been encouraging people to stay local and uging visitors not to travel to the Duchy for holidays or to stay in second homes.
"It's normally worth around 25 million pounds, and half of that would go on retail and food and drink, it's always a nice little boost at the lowest time of the year.
"But obviously with the pandemic, and public health must come first, it's just another 25 million pounds to add to the losses that we've already incurred."
Malcolm Bell, Visit Cornwall
He fears that Easter may also be lost, as we wait to hear what the Prime Minister's 'road map' out of lockdown will be.
Boris Johnson is due to make an announcement next week as to how the easing of restrictions will look.
"Last week I would have said there's a 30% chance that we'd be open for Easter, now I think it's a 10% chance, Easter does seem to be disappearing.
"We've got to make sure that the NHS can cope and save lives, so in reality I think we'll be looking at some time in April or early May."
Malcolm says the more time we spend indoors now to help drive the coronavirus infection rate down, the more time we will hopefully be allowed outside in the spring.
He added that the summer is looking promising, and people are being encouraged to book summer holidays, despite the government advice that it is too early to consider.
Cornwall's tourism boss: 'People CAN still book their summer holidays here'
"Easter weekend and that week is worth over 60 to 70 million pounds to us, so between that and half term it's around 100 million pounds.
"But it then ramps up after that, it is a price we're going to have to pay, we do need government support on things like extending the VAT and other deferred payments.
"The summer is looking popular and good, and that gives people hope."
Malcolm Bell, Visit Cornwall