TOURISM leaders on Exmoor will be meeting the industry's regional chief today (Friday) to call for immediate action to raise the area's profile following concerns over the poor holiday season. Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism, will be in Dulverton for emergency talks about the lack of visitors and the current state of business for accommodation providers, restaurants, tearooms and owners of attractions. Dr Brian Martin, chairman of the newly formed Visit Exmoor, a partnership between the local tourism industry, the Exmoor National Park Authority and West Somerset District Council, told the Free Press earlier this week that he was still trying to gather hard statistics on the situation. "But some businesses are reporting trade is down by around 30 per cent or even as much as 50 per cent on previous years. "What we are experiencing is possibly worse than average." Dr Martin said, although it appeared to be a poor season for the industry across the country, the most worrying factor on Exmoor was that many accommodation providers were actually not full in August. "If you have not got bookings for this month then you know there is something seriously wrong." He said the recent terrorist attacks on London had clearly had an impact on the number of foreign tourists visiting the UK but the problem on Exmoor, where less than ten per cent of visitors are from overseas, seemed to be exacerbated by the cost of travel, the cost of living, cheap flights abroad and the current trend for people to "tighten their financial belts". Today's meeting, which will also be attended by Antony Brunt, chairman of the Exmoor Tourism Association, national park officer Dr Nigel Stone and other members of the Visit Exmoor board, including Dr Martin, will be calling for South West Tourism to give Exmoor a bigger slice of the action in any forthcoming campaigns and promotions. Dr Martin said the organisation had been very supportive of the local industry in the past but Visit Exmoor was in its infancy and desperately needed "serious" funds to promote the area more widely. Over the past few months it has been trying to secure grant aid to employ a full-time Visit Exmoor manager. Tourism leaders are understood to be particularly concerned about the level of business in the off- peak 'shoulder' months of the season as the hunting ban begins to bite in earnest this autumn. "There is no doubt the ban will have an impact on Exmoor and although it does not explain the poor July and August figures, it is a real worry that people know that the off-peak months are unlikely to be very good," said Dr Martin. Judy Carless, who runs Tarr Farm restaurant, rooms and tearoom at Tarr Steps on the moor, said although hotel bookings were very good at the moment, there were definitely fewer day trippers around. "We have certainly noticed a decline in the number of walkers and people stopping for lunches and teas. "It is a real worry."
