Eclipse casts shadow over West Country hoteliers

HOTELIERS in Devon and Cornwall say bookings are down and people are cancelling their holidays because they do not want to be in the West Country during the week of the eclipse.

They say holidaymakers are avoiding the region because they are worried the 11 August event will result in a water shortage, traffic congestion and high accommodation prices.

Meanwhile, others who would like to book a holiday are apparently not doing so because they imagine the hotels are already full with eclipse visitors.

At the 110-bedroom Grand hotel in Torquay, Devon, a party of 100 Japanese visitors have already cancelled their booking because of congestion fears.

General manager Paul Feasey said: "All the signs are the eclipse effect is a negative one."

Smaller hotels are also being hit badly. John Wilbraham, owner of the 11-bedroom Anstey's Cove hotel in Torquay, and chairman of the Torquay Hotels Association, said: "I can count our bookings on one hand and we have had a couple of cancellations. But for what? I shall probably blink and miss the eclipse."

Keith Underwood, owner of the eight-bedroom Glenside hotel in Teignmouth, Devon, added: "We have not put up our prices but people have been scared off."

According to hoteliers and tourism officials, trade has also been hit outside the week of the eclipse itself.

In Cornwall bookings forthe month of August are down 30% and September bookingsare slow.