How's Business 2018

January 2018

This month saw ER businesses reporting a slight  decrease in their visitors (-2.89%) with relatively level turnover (+0.71%) compared with the same time last year. The decrease in visitors was similar to the region as a whole (-2.02%) whilst the slight increase in turnover on the Bay compared with a decrease in turnover for regional businesses (-1.49%). Overall the month can be viewed as relatively stable when factors such as survey margins of error, the proportion of year round business that January accounts for and the numbers of businesses closed are considered.

A total sample of 60 this month (58% of whom were open for the month – 35 businesses). Download the report here.

February 2018

February 2018 saw ER businesses reporting a small decrease in their visitors (-5%) and turnover (-3%) compared with the same time last year. The decrease in visitors and turnover was similar to the region as a whole (-4% visitors and -3% turnover).

Again the month can be viewed as relatively stable when factors such as survey margins of error, the proportion of year round business that February accounts for and the numbers of businesses closed are considered. Download the report here.

March 2018

In terms of results, March was a poor month both on the English Riviera and the region overall which can largely be attributed to the severe weather and snow, with cold weather over an early Easter too. It’s likely that Easter also wasn’t helped by the long range weather forecasts which were considerably worse than what actually happened.

As a result March 2018 saw ER businesses reporting a decrease in their visitors (-13%) and turnover (-10%) compared with the same time last year.

A total of 98 responses were received from ERBID businesses for March which is much improved on recent months. Download the report here.

April 2018

April, as expected, was a disappointing month across the SW which we can probably attribute to the severe weather experienced earlier in the year impacting advance bookings, poor weather in April impacting Day Visits and Easter falling in March this year. When we last had an early Easter in 2016, ER saw a decrease of — 21% in April for visitors. April 2018 for the ER was -19% down on visitor numbers in comparison.

A total of 124 businesses completed the April survey, representing a 21% response rate for the month which is a healthy response in research terms. Download the report here.

May 2018

In terms of results, we saw stability in May with visitors and turnover being broadly similar to last year for both the English Riviera and the region which is good news after the poor start to the year.  The outlook for June and July is not too positive at present but hopefully the better weather will bring more bookings to change this.  It’s worth noting that some businesses are concerned about booking levels for the peak season though. 

The survey has a very healthy overall response rate of 22% (130 responses) for the month. The accommodation sector response is up and other sectors are again similar to last month. Download the report here.

June 2018

This is the first time this year that the ER has outperformed the rest of the region and pleasingly this is showing as turnover/visitor spend:

• June visitors for the ER compared to last year are estimated at +2.7% compared to -1.5% for the  region with turnover on the ER estimated at +4.8% compared to +0.5% for the region.
• The outlook for July is mixed. 53% of accommodation providers currently state August is not as good as last year.
• Optimism increased for the third month running to 6.53 from 6.08 last month.
• Serviced room occupancy is estimated to be around 5% higher than in June 2017.

Download the report here.

July 2018

July results were fairly positive with visitor numbers the same as in July 2017 but turnover +1% compared to last year for the English Riviera. In contrast the South West region saw a 1% decrease in visitors and turnover.

The response this month is shown below with a response rate of 18% and 111 responses for the month. Download the report here.

August 2018

In terms of results, a positive August with visitors 1% up and turnover up 3% compared to last year for the English Riviera. August visitors for the English Riviera compared to last year are estimated at +1.1% compared to +0.8% for the region with turnover on the Riviera estimated at +2.6% compared to +2.1% for the region.

The survey maintains a relatively healthy response rate of 19% for the month. Download the report here.

September 2018

A less positive month for September with visitor numbers -7.7% and turnover -8.7% down compared to September 2017, slightly higher decreases than the SW region as a whole. This is likely to have been influenced by the earlier return to school and the unsettled weather during the month with the arrival of the first two named storms of the 2018/19 season. Download the report here.

October 2018

A less positive month for October with visitor numbers -4.5% and turnover -3.2% down compared to October 2017, slightly higher decreases than the SW region as a whole. Download the report here.

November 2018

November shows English Riviera visitor numbers -6.4% and turnover -9.6% down compared to November 2017, ahead of the SW on visitor numbers at -7.1% but trailing slightly on turnover at -5.3%. Download the report here.

December 2018

December shows English Riviera visitor numbers -0.9% and turnover +0.5% compared to December 2017, slightly behind the SW on visitor numbers at +0.4% and on turnover at +3.0%. Download the report here.