If you're from Cornwall, how do you personally feel about tourists and second home owners?

[Beerlovingwalker]

Genuinely curious really, as an outsider that loves Cornwall.

On the one hand, it must be nice to know that so many people love the beauty of your county and I'm sure it's nice to share it. However, it also must be difficult to adjust from living fairly quietly in the Autumn/winter months, to suddenly have to share your space with so many million tourists and second home owners in the summer.

North Devon. Please bear in mind the vast majority of tourism jobs are poorly paid and seasonal. Most of the bigger holiday parks and venues are corporate holdings and the profit does not reach the local community. Smaller sites tend to be owned by traditional land owners. There is very very little social mobility here.

The attitude of many second home owners and tourists stinks, it seems that for some because they are paying to be somewhere all the locals should them first. Some seem to have a huge sense of entitlement.

The attitude of many second home owners and tourists stinks, it seems that for some because they are paying to be somewhere all the locals should them first. Some seem to have a huge sense of entitlement.

The problem is if you build a local economy around tourism the whole place becomes part of the hospitality industry. U.K. holiday resorts. Paying tourists flock there and expect just that... hospitality.
I avoid tourist hotspots for this very reason. Expensive supermarkets, restaurants, gift shops, parking, attraction admission costs all selling at overinflated prices.
It’s just a shame our beautiful coastline towns are like mini theme parks.
We had holidays in the ‘70s and ‘80s all round the coast. Tiny villages dotted around the coast. You went to the local baker, had ice-creams... nowadays it’s excursions, artisan cafes, celebrity restaurants,
Who has pushed prices up? Not entirely the fault of the people who visit or buy house there.

@shallIswim no it is quite an old property - fantastic location but quite poky so if you did live there you could only have 1 or 2 people max

I think it probably helps to look at it as a problem for society rather than a blame game for individuals. Second home ownership causes massive issues whatever the area of the country you live in.

In not so densely populated areas it can sound the death knell for the community, losing pubs, shops, GP and schools.

Focusing on the individuals that buy, sell or contribute to building on that property is missing the bigger picture that expecting all individuals to take the altruistic view of not selling to the highest bidder, not investing in property etc is bound to fail. There needs to be govt support for legislation and strategies to protect communities wherever they are in the country.

However if you have a second home and evade council tax, took a disproportionate govt grant for ‘lost earnings’, trample over the community with selfish parking and development then I think you are pretty immoral but you probably don’t care.

@cooliebrown we camp or rent caravans in beautiful Cornwall most years. The prices are already at the very top end of our budget and I would resent paying this.

[quote TheWatersofMarch]@cooliebrown we camp or rent caravans in beautiful Cornwall most years. The prices are already at the very top end of our budget and I would resent paying this. [/quote]
I agree. There're been some shocking price hikes. I must say tho that the worst example in our village (a literal doubling of last year's price) is for a house owned as an investment by folk who live in London. You can imagine how popular they are right now!!

@Stolengoat

'Grew up in Cornwall, live South Devon (came here to work). Second home owners are selfish scum' Out of interest, what do you think of the local who sold the property to them for top dollar?

How do you know that it was a local who made a killing? In many cases the property may have changed hands a few times since it was used as a residence by a local. It could also have been a probate sale.

@Macncheeseballs

#Venus22, I absolutely do think otherwise, how many years do people have to live there before the 'locals' stop calling them emmets, or is that based on economics?

That name means holiday makers/visitors, not people who have moved here. Check it's translation!