How's Business 2020

January 2020

Overall, January 2020 saw a decrease in visitors compared to last year (-3.1%) with no real change in turnover for the English Riviera (-0.3%) with both below the region as a whole (-0.1% visitors and +0.4% turnover).  The largest proportions of businesses are anticipating increased or level performance for February (57%) whilst, in contrast, 58% are anticipating decreases for March which is more of a concern but this could improve by the time the data is collected. 

However, the increasing media coverage around the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which is rapidly changing on a daily basis could also potentially have an impact on bookings during this time and moving into the key holiday taking period.  Whilst it is still very early days, some businesses have already started raising concerns this month over the impact of the virus on their potential future bookings, particularly with Easter fast approaching which usually marks the start of the season for most businesses. 

As discussed, we will be keeping a close eye on any potential impacts of the virus on tourism businesses and tracking these impacts through the survey over the next few months.  At 6.13 business optimism however has remained almost unchanged compared with last month. Download the report here.

February 2020

The February 2020 survey saw businesses already starting to feel the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with very significant decreases in both visitors (-37.7%) and turnover (-38.6%) compared to the same time last year and both decreases were higher than the region as a whole (-23.8% visitors and -22.6% turnover). We estimate the value of turnover decrease in February for the ER to be approximately £8.1m with the COVID-19 pandemic accounting for £3.4m of this.

90%, 93% and 90% of businesses respectively were anticipating decreased performance for March, April and the Easter holidays.

Business optimism has also decreased dramatically to 2.84 compared with 3.23 for the region as a whole. Download the report here.

April 2020

The April 2020 survey saw businesses really feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with 98% of businesses closed during April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1% had been closed for part of the month and 1% had remained open. To the end of April it is estimated that approximately £59 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February.  Download the report here.

May 2020

In May 2020, 96% of businesses said their business was closed as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, 3% had been closed for part of the month and just 1% had remained open. To the end of May it is estimated that approximately £98 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID‐19 since February: 99% of turnover was lost in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn). Download the report here.

June 2020

In June, 90% of businesses said their business was closed for the whole month as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 4% had been closed for part of the month and 5% had remained open. To the end of June it is estimated that approximately £141 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February: 95% of turnover was lost in June (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn). Download the report here.

July 2020

In July, 91% of businesses said they had now re-opened, 6% hadn’t re-opened but planned to in the near future and 3% still had no plans to re-open. To the end of July it is estimated that approximately £174 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February: 50% of turnover was lost in July (£33 mn), 95% of June turnover (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn). Download the report here.

August 2020

To the end of August it is estimated that approximately £184 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February. 14% of turnover was lost in August (£10 mn), 50% of July turnover (£33 mn), 95% of June turnover (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn).

11% of English Riviera businesses were closed during August as a result of COVID-19 and 42% of those still open to some degree were operating at increased turnover levels compared to August 2019. The overall change in turnover for all businesses trading was +3% compared to August 2019. Download the report here.

September 2020

To the end of September it is estimated that approximately £191 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February. 17% of turnover was lost in September (£7 mn), 14% of August turnover (£10 mn), 50% of July turnover (£33 mn), 95% of June turnover (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn).

10% of English Riviera businesses were closed during September as a result of COVID-19 and 37% of those still open to some degree were operating at increased turnover levels compared to September 2019. The overall change in turnover for all businesses trading was -8% compared to September 2019. Download the report here.

October 2020

To the end of October it is estimated that approximately £200 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID‐19 since February. 39% of turnover was lost in October (£9 mn), 17% of September turnover (£7 mn), 14% of August turnover (£10 mn), 50% of July turnover (£33 mn), 95% of June turnover (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35 mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn).

14% of businesses were closed during October as a result of COVID‐19 and 55% of those still open to some degree were operating at decreased turnover levels compared to October 2019. The overall change in turnover for all businesses trading was ‐29% compared to October 2019. Download the report here.

November 2020

To the end of November it is estimated that approximately £216 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on The English Riviera due to COVID-19 since February. 96% of turnover was lost in November (£16 mn), 39% of October turnover (£9 mn), 17% of September turnover (£7 mn), 14% of August turnover (£10 mn), 50% of July turnover (£33 mn), 95% of June turnover (£43 mn), 99% in each case during May (£39 mn) and April (£35mn), 81% of March turnover (£21 mn) and 14% of February turnover (£3.4 mn).

83% of businesses were closed during November as a result of COVID-19, 13% were closed for part of the month and just 4% had remained open. The overall change in turnover for all businesses trading was -76% compared to November 2019. Download the report here.

December 2020

In December 2020, 58% of businesses were closed during as a result of COVID-19, 37% were closed for part of the month and just 5% had remained open. Those businesses still open to some degree were operating at -61% turnover levels compared to December 2019. Compared to the whole of 2019 it is estimated that approximately £232 million of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost on the English Riviera during 2020 due to COVID-19, 55% of the total anticipated turnover for the year. Download the report here.