South West tourism industry 'could lose more than a billion pounds' as a result of coronavirus lockdown
Thousands of tourism-reliant businesses in the South West are struggling to keep going as the UK enters its seventh weekend in lockdown.
The first May Bank Holiday normally provides a welcome boost, but with restrictions continuing, Visit Somerset is warning losses could rise to over a billion pounds if attractions are forced to stay closed until the end of June.
Owners of the Headlands Hotel in Newquay, John and Carol Armstrong, say they have plenty of ideas on how they can open safely.
Carol Chalmers, owner of Lewinsdale Lodge Guest House in Weston-super-Mare, is also concerned about their future.
The Head of Visit Somerset, John Turner, says the region's tourism industry could miss out on more than a billion pounds by the end of June - and that many businesses require more help.
He said: "Those financial measures and grant funding might need to be extended to ensure we get through this."
The Head of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell, says a kite-mark safety system is needed around Covid-19.
"Unless a business can prove it can mitigate the risk," she said, "then they shouldn't open but if they can they should, when it is right to do so."
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