Breadcrumbs
Foot and Mouth Implications for Wider Rural Businesses - 1 March 2001
Countryside Agency chief executive Richard Wakeford said: "It's a double whammy. Thousands of small businesses have been encouraged to set up in the countryside, bringing new jobs and income to remoter rural areas. Farmers too have been urged to diversify into tourism and now find themselves turning away the very bed & breakfast visitors they depend on for extra cash. Local food processing and other businesses are now beginning to be hit. We have urged walkers and other visitors to stay away from farms and livestock . Every other effort possible must be made now, if we are to avoid a huge long term impact through the closure of tourist attractions, the cancellation of popular events and lost business in a whole range of rural enterprise.
"Tourism and country sports alone is worth £16 billion a year and supports 400,000 in the countryside. If the Cheltenham Gold Cup is cancelled - it's not just the racing industry who will lose out but hundreds of other small businesses throughout Gloucestershire who benefit from the influx of high spending visitors. Throughout rural England thousands of businesses must be wondering about their prospects as the first busy period approaches. If people need to stay out of the countryside through the Easter holidays the knock on effect could damage the rural economy to the tune of £2 billion."
- ends -
Notes to editors: Further information from Isobel Coy on 0207 340 2906 or
(out of hours) 07973 94 28 92
Tourism is worth £12 billion a year in the English countryside (£9 billion on day trips),
supports 340,000 jobs in rural England, and underpins 25,000 mostly small businesses.
Country sports is worth nearly £4 billion to the economy and supports 60,000 rural jobs
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmental well being of the English countryside.
