Much has been said in recent weeks about the role of tourism in Cornwall. Clearly, we are in the midst of what is an exceptional time with higher demand than ever from those wanting to come here on holiday.
Whilst this current peak is unlikely to continue beyond the
next year or so, there is no doubt that tourism will continue to play a major
part in our economy. This brings with it both positives and challenges. Tourism
not only provides essential work for many local people - one in three
households in Cornwall rely on tourism for at least part of their income - but also supports many more businesses and
jobs in the supply chain and supporting services.
A sizeable majority of our local businesses, from retail
shops or restaurants and pubs and many other local services simply would not be
viable without the additional income tourism brings. Many of the things that
make Cornwall such a great place to live, that those of us fortunate enough to
call this special place our home, get to enjoy for 52 weeks of the year, would
not exist without the influx of visitors.
Clearly there are challenges that having such an influx of
people brings. Whether it is the annoyance of traffic jams and queues, or the
far more serious issues of the pressure it places on local housing and public
services, it is important that we maintain a sustainable balance between the
economic benefits and the pressures it creates.
This current spike will pass, but I am also determined that
we learn from this time and take appropriate action to ensure measures are put
in place, to avoid the challenges we are facing this summer being repeated in
the future.
But I think it is
also important we recognise there is a lot more locally than tourism. One of
the real joys of the past year or so has been getting a better understanding of
some of the other amazing businesses we have here in mid-Cornwall. Particularly
it has been incredible to learn of the vital and significant role our
constituency has played nationally and internationally in the global fight
against the Coronavirus.
It can be all too easy to just see us as a tourism backwater
where nothing much else happens. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am
not talking about the future potential of things like Spaceports, lithium
extraction or geo-thermal energy, which will one day open new opportunities for
Cornwall to be recognised as a place for future jobs and industries. I am
talking about things happening, in reality, right now.
For example, one of our local businesses played a key role
in the establishment of the Nightingale hospitals that we set up and opened in
record quick time at the start of the pandemic last year.
Or another local factory that is supplying specialist air
filters for ventilators around the world.
Our Cornish China Clay is a vital component of many medical
devices that have been even more essential than ever throughout the pandemic.
Maintaining production and supply of the raw materials needed for some of the
basic, but essential supplies the NHS and health services around the world
needed was clearly challenging during the lockdowns, but supplies kept
flowing.
Another company is manufacturing a vital component for the
vials that contain the COVID-19 vaccine that is our way out of this pandemic.
In fact, 50% of all the of the vials for the vaccine in Europe and Asia rely on
a factory right here in mid-Cornwall for their supplies.
Too often we are unaware of some of the incredible things
that happen in our local communities, and we can be very proud of the
significant role local businesses and local people have played during this pandemic.
I have been pleased to work with these businesses and others
to ensure they are able to play their part in the national effort to beat this
virus. It is without exaggeration to say many thousands of lives have been
saved because of the work they do. The people that work in these businesses are
some of the unsung heroes of the pandemic.
Tourism will always be a major and important part of what
Cornwall is about. But we should never lose sight of the fact we have a great
deal more to offer our country and the world than just being a great place to
holiday. Both now, and I believe even more so into the future, Cornwall has
much to offer the world and we should feel rightly proud of our contribution.
