Tourists feel petrol pinch and cut down on day trips

tourists are cutting back on day trips as fuel prices bite. bookings at somerset attractions have halved, according to visit somerset, whose ceo john turner warned the impact could be "seismic" and that b&bs and hotels could "collapse into administration". the grand pier in weston-super-mare saw easter numbers down 6% on last year. admission is £2 and a typical visitor spends under £15, but boss michelle michael says "people are more cautious." the bishop's palace at wells, where admission is £15, was about 10% down on 2025. ceo merryn kidd said "people are still coming out, just not quite as many." a survey of somerset tourism businesses comparing march 2026 to the previous year found 50% reported numbers significantly down, and one in four saw cancellations rise. some attractions are trying free admission — the dean heritage centre cut ticket prices to zero and now gets about £5 per family in donations plus cafe spending. but turner says 200-300 jobs could be lost in somerset alone if the squeeze continues. industry leaders want the government to cut vat on tourism and hospitality.