Tourist boats hit the water at Newquay Harbour after the winter layoff. Ready for the summer 2025 season.
Attractions such as Lappa Valley Steam Railway near Newquay have upped their footfall despite recent major Cornish tourist attractions such Flambards and Dairyland both having closed. However they admit National Insurance rises coming into effect now will cost around £1000 extra per staff member.
Businesses in Cornwall say they're feeling a sense of '"cautious optimism" for the state of tourism in the Duchy this year.
The recent half term holiday was worth around £25 million to the Cornish economy, with around 250,000 visits, according to Jon Hyatt of Visit Cornwall.
He says "There's still a lot of determination to put on brilliant stays for guests, brilliant days out and gearing up for what we're hoping will return to busy levels."
* Visitor Spend: Pre-pandemic (2019), Cornwall attracted 19.3 million day and staying trips, resulting in £2.1 billion in visitor-related spending. 

* Jobs: The tourism sector supported approximately 53,000 jobs. 

* Economic Contribution: The visitor economy makes up 15% of the Cornish economy. 

* Overnight Visits: Over 4 million overnight visits happen every year, along with 14 million day trips. 

* Employment: The visitor economy accounts for around 20% of employment. 

* Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: 27% of the region is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, contributing to its strong tourism asset. 

* Recent Trends: While the visitor economy is a major part of Cornwall's identity, some recent trends show that businesses are feeling a sense of "cautious optimism" for the state of tourism in the Duchy this year. 

* Challenges: Some challenges include the high cost of holidays in Cornwall and the seasonal nature of many jobs in the tourism sector. 

* Future Trends: Shorter breaks are becoming increasingly popular, and it is recommended that tourism destinations focus on short break itineraries to show their audiences how it is possible to fit a great Cornish experience into a weekend.