Only 41% of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survival

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 06:56 · Archive

Just 41 per cent of Cumbria tourism businesses believe they can survive the next five years, new figures show.

Tourism businesses in Cumbria are struggling as rising costs and economic uncertainty erode confidence in the sector. New figures unveiled at Cumbria Tourism's November Members' Meeting showed that 80 per cent of businesses are deeply worried about increasing costs, with only 41 per cent believing they can survive the next five years.

Short-term resilience remains stronger: 77 per cent of businesses are confident they can manage for the next six months. However, this confidence dips significantly over longer timeframes, with 68 per cent saying they feel secure through to the end of 2027.

The Business Tracker Survey, collected ahead of the Budget and sponsored by Lamont Pridmore, identified consumer spending, inflation and business rates as key pain points. A total of 74 per cent cited the wider economic climate as a concern, 62 per cent pointed to high energy costs, and 61 per cent worried about inflation. Over half expressed concern about business rates and guest numbers.

The pressure is translating into difficult decisions on staffing. More than one in five businesses—22 per cent—plan to reduce staffing levels or halt recruitment, whilst 20 per cent expect to cut back or freeze planned pay rises.

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said the findings revealed how challenging conditions remain for tourism businesses across the region. She noted that businesses face rising costs whilst visitors become more careful about spending, a combination having 'a very real impact on confidence, staffing and future investment'. Haigh highlighted as 'particularly concerning' the fall in confidence over the longer term.

Only 41% of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survival — Image: NW Evening Mail

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How it is being reported

Only 41 per cent of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survivalTourism businesses are feeling the strain as rising costs and economic uncertainty dampen confidence across the sector.NW Evening Mail · 6 Nov, 05:00
Only 41 per cent of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survivalTourism businesses are feeling the strain as rising costs and economic uncertainty dampen confidence across the sector.Cumberland News · 6 Nov, 05:00
Only 41 per cent of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survivalTourism businesses are feeling the strain as rising costs and economic uncertainty dampen confidence across the sector.Whitehaven News · 6 Nov, 05:00
Only 41 per cent of Cumbria tourism businesses confident of long-term survivalTourism businesses are feeling the strain as rising costs and economic uncertainty dampen confidence across the sector.Westmorland Gazette · 6 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Cumbria · Cumbria Tourism · Gill Haigh · Lamont Pridmore

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