Tourists feel petrol pinch and cut down on day trips
Tourists in Somerset and surrounding areas are cutting back on day trips due to rising fuel and living costs, leading to reduced visitor numbers at attractions like Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier and the Bishop's Palace in Wells. Tourism officials report a significant drop in bookings, with some sites offering free admission or added perks to attract visitors. Despite efforts to boost attendance, many tourism businesses remain concerned about financial sustainability amid declining disposable income.
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Tourists feel petrol pinch and cut down on day trips44 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDave HarveyWest of England business and environment correspondentBBCWeston-super-Mare's famous Grand Pier has seen fewer visitors as people spend more on essentialsFirst it was the farmers and lorry drivers who noticed the impact of war in Iran.Now a medieval palace and a seaside pier have been hit as people cut back on day trips to save money for fuel.Bookings in Somerset's tourism attractions have halved, according to Visit Somerset, who warned the impact could be "seismic".John Turner, chief executive of Visit Somerset, said he worried "we will see B&Bs, even hotels, collapse into administration".In the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, numbers have fallen so fast that one museum decided…
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