MEDIA RELEASE
 

 
04.11.02
 

FOOD, SCENERY AND TRANQUILLITY TOP FOR TOURISTS

Three of the biggest attractions for visitors to Cornwall are the food, landscape and the peace and tranquillity. Among the top dislikes are parking charges, traffic jams and the crowds.

Recent research carried out by Cornwall Taste of the West revealed that good food is increasingly becoming a factor drawing tourists to the county and that a growing number of people wish to take long weekend, out-of-season breaks.

Gina Woodcraft, chief executive of farm and rural tourism organisation Cartwheel, said the research showed the exciting new opportunities for farm and rural tourism businesses.

“These things are exactly what people coming on extended out-of-season weekend breaks are looking for,” she said. “They come here for the tranquillity, to walk, to enjoy the food and indulge in a delicious cream tea.”

She added: “Farms and rural tourism enterprises are the obvious place to bring together the desire for good Cornish food along with the peace and quiet that so many people are looking for. We can’t do much about parking and overcrowding in the urban areas, but they are not an issue in rural areas.”

The research also showed new opportunities for the county’s food and drink producers to promote their produce through Cornish food hampers. More than three-quarters of tourists visiting the county said they would be prepared to order speciality food hampers of local food and drink, delivered to their holiday accommodation on their arrival.

“It is very encouraging to see that a food hamper, as part of the total holiday experience, finds favour with so many visitors,” said Carol Trewin, Cornwall manager for Taste of the West.

The survey revealed that visitors expect to find Cornish food and drink in local shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants, with 65 per cent of holiday makers in self-catering accommodation eating out and more than half buying their food once they arrive in the county.

“The potential for Cornish food and drink is therefore very encouraging and we will be working with producers and the tourism sector to build on this for the next season,” Carol Trewin said.

“This proves that there is a growing interest in buying local food and drink, which could be a win-win situation for all food and drink and tourism businesses,” she added. “We are already working with several Cornish businesses to develop Cornish food hampers to take advantage of this new market opportunity.”

For more information contact either Gina Woodcraft at Cartwheel on 01392 877842, or Carol Trewin at Cornwall Taste of the West on 01579 349363.

 

Editors notes:

Cornwall Taste of the West is a £3 million Objective One umbrella project to promote Cornish food and drink. It is funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and private matched funding. It is part of the Taste of the West speciality food group. Cornwall Taste of the West’s four year project includes a trade development programme a marketing grant scheme, and a capital grants scheme, available to small and medium sized food businesses that produce, sell or process speciality, in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. For more information contact Carol Trewin or Grace Lobb at Cornwall Taste of the West, 01579 349363, www.cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk
Taste of the West is the regional speciality food group for the six counties of the South West, offering business development and trade support to food & drink producers. It is supported by Food From Britain, the National Farmers’ Union and DEFRA
Cartwheel is an innovative company run by people who live and work in the rural community. It promotes a range of top quality farm and country accommodation and activities based in the rural areas of South West of England and Cornwall. Its work in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Objective One area is funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and private matched funding For more information contact Gina Woodcraft at Cartwheel, 01392 877842, www.farmtourism.co.uk
The Cartwheel brand is unique to the South West of England. Many Cartwheel farmers take positive action by not farming their land intensively, allowing the wild flowers and native wildlife to flourish in the fields and hedgerows. This action to conserve and restore the landscape encourages greater accessibility and enjoyment of our countryside which is loved and appreciated by so many and will serve as a lasting legacy for future generations.
The survey questioned more than 1,000 people at the Royal Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire in July 2002.Further information or a copy the survey are available from Ruth Huxley, Market Intelligence manager, at Cornwall Taste of the West, tel 01579 349363.
Hampers for self-catering accommodation in West Cornwall are available from West Cornwall Hampers. For more information contact Mrs Bernie Harris, West Cornwall Hampers, 01736 763623, www.westcornwallhampers.co.uk

 

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk