How's Business 2024

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER & FULL YEAR 2024

November saw 52% of all businesses experiencing decreased visitors/customers compared with the same time last year – representing a decrease of -9% compared with November 2023 (compared with -6% for the region as a whole).  53% of all businesses experienced increased (25%) or level (28%) turnover in November compared with the same time last year and 47% reporting decreases – representing a decrease of -7% compared with November 2023 (compared with -6% for the region as a whole).

December showed a similar picture with 52% of all businesses experiencing decreased visitors/customers and 53% reporting increased or level (29% and 24% respectively) turnover – decreases of    -6% and -4% respectively compared with December 2023 (compared with decreases of -5% each for the region as a whole).

At 4.49 out of 10.00 the optimism score has decreased compared with last month (4.72) to its lowest level since April 2024.

2024 as a whole:
For 2024 as a whole, 65% of businesses reported decreased visitors and 63% decreased turnover compared with 2023 – representing decreases of -9% and -7% respectively and compared with decreases of -7% and -6% respectively for the region as a whole.

Compared to 2023 as a whole, 79% of business reported increased staffing costs for 2024, 91% reported increased cost of goods, supplies and services required to operate and 45% reported increasing their business charges to their customers.  Average length of stay, average group size and average spend per person all decreased compared with 2023.

Download the full report here.

OCTOBER 2024

The majority of all businesses experienced decreased visitors/customers (56%) compared with October 2023, representing a decrease of -11% compared with the same time last year. 49% of businesses reported a decrease in their turnover for the month compared with October 2023 (49%), representing a decrease of -13% compared with the same time last year. Both decreases were similar to the region overall.

At 71%, businesses are currently most concerned about the increase in the cost of living generally (a -1% decrease compared with last month).
At 4.72 out of 10.00, the optimism score decreased slightly compared with 4.81 last month.

August - October 2024 General Performance:
It has clearly been another challenging few months for tourism and leisure businesses with unpredictable weather impacting the school summer holidays, followed by the fall out from the Autumn budget which will inevitably impact businesses’ bottom line.

On a more positive note, some business did feel that their October performance turned out better than anticipated, largely due to the relatively dry weather during the school October half term week and are cautiously optimistic about the coming year, albeit at the same time as being conscious that the tax and other business cost rises in the budget are likely to reduce disposable income with the knock-on effects on discretionary spending such as on holidays.  Download the full report here.

SEPTEMBER 2024

The majority of all businesses experienced decreased visitors/customers (54%) and turnover (61%) compared with September 2023 with each representing decreases of -9% compared with the same time last year and a similar performance to the region overall (-10% visitors/customers and -9% turnover).
48% of accommodation businesses anticipate decreased bookings for October compared with 2023 levels, whilst 53% said the same for November and 57% for December (compared with 2023 levels) at the time of writing this report, although there may be some variation in the actual proportions once the data is collected.

At 71%, businesses are currently most concerned about the increase in the cost of living generally (a 2% increase compared with last month), decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (70%, a -10% decrease compared with last month), followed by increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (62%, an increase of 2% compared with last month) and rising energy costs (54%, a decrease of -11% compared with last month).

At 4.81 out of 10.00, the optimism score increased slightly compared with 4.78.  Download the full report here.

AUGUST 2024

The majority of all businesses experienced decreased visitors/customers (53%) and turnover (59%) compared with August 2023 with each representing decreases of -12% and -10% respectively compared with the same time last year and a broadly similar performance to the region overall. 57% of accommodation businesses anticipate decreased bookings for September compared with 2023 levels, whilst 76% said the same for October and 71% for November (compared with 2023 levels) at the time of writing this report, although there may be some variation in the actual proportions once the data is collected. At 80%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (no change compared with last month), followed by the increase in the cost of living generally (69%, a decrease of -5% compared with last month), rising energy costs (65%, an increase of 7% compared with last month) and increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (60%, an increase of 1% compared with last month). At 4.78 out of 10.00, the optimism score decreased compared with 5.00 last month. Download the full report here.

JULY 2024

The majority of all businesses experienced decreased visitors/customers (55%) and turnover (58%) compared with July 2023 with both representing decreases of -11% each compared with the same time last year and a similar performance to the region overall. 54% of accommodation businesses anticipate level or increased bookings for August compared with 2023 levels, whilst 58% anticipate decreased bookings for September and 74% said the same for October (compared with 2023 levels) at the time of writing this report, although these figures may change as we collect data for each of these months. At 80%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (an increase of 1% compared with last month), followed by the increase in the cost of living generally (74%, an increase of 2% compared with last month), increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (59%, a decrease of -3% compared with last month) and rising energy costs (58%, an increase of 10% compared with last month). However, at 5.00 out of 10.00, the optimism score has increased back up to the halfway mark for the first time since November 2023 as we entered the peak period and compares with 4.70 last month. Download the full report here.

JUNE 2024

The majority of all businesses experienced decreased visitors/customers (67%) and turnover (64%) compared with June 2023, representing decreases of -17% in each case compared with the same time last year.  At 79%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (an increase of 4% compared with last month), followed by the increase in the cost of living generally (72%, an increase of 13% compared with last month), increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (62%, an increase of 16% compared with last month) and rising energy costs (48%, a decrease of -3% compared with last month). The proportion of businesses concerned about the Cryptosporidium outbreak decreased by 34% compared with last month to 26% (60% in May). At 4.70 out of 10.00, the optimism score has increased for the third consecutive month since a low of 4.34 in April and 4.53 in May but still remains the third lowest score recorded over the last 12 months. Download the full report here.

MAY 2024

74% of all businesses in each case experienced decreased visitors/customers and turnover compared with May 2023 resulting in decreases of -25% and -25% respectively compared with May 2023. On the 14th of May 2024 many media outlets, both regional and national reported on an outbreak of cryptosporidium in the Brixham area.  The majority of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for June (70%), July (77%) and August (75%) compared with 2023 levels at the time of writing this report, although these figures may change as we collect data for each of these months.

At 75%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (a decrease of - 1% compared with last month), followed by the continuing Cryptosporidium outbreak (60%), the increase in the cost of living generally (59%, a decrease of -10% compared with last month), rising energy costs (51%, a decrease of -15% compared with last month) and other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (46%, compared with 62% last month). Download the full report here.

APRIL 2024

The February to April period has remained a challenging operational climate for the vast majority of tourism businesses with April in particular seeing the largest proportions of businesses to date for the last 12 months reporting decreases in both their visitors/customers (78%) and turnover (75%) compared to April 2023, largely as a result of the early Easter but also the poor, wet weather during the school holiday period.
Our thanks go to all businesses that have taken part in the survey this month and to those organisations that have assisted us with the promotion of the survey. It’s very much appreciated.   Download the full report here.

MARCH 2024

March 2024 saw 56% of all businesses experiencing a decrease in their visitors/customers and a similar proportion, 54%, experiencing the same in terms of their turnover –representing decreases of -9% and -10% respectively compared with March 2023. For performance in relation to both visitors/customers and turnover it is also worth noting that there was very little middle ground as well with only between 9-12% saying that their levels had stayed the same with the remainder saying they had either increased or decreased and which explains why the actual change in both is quite low compared to the actual percentage who had seen a decreases.  Download the full report here.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

January and February saw 60% and 68% of all businesses respectively experiencing a decrease in visitors/customers representing decreases of -15% in each case compared with the same time during 2023. In terms of turnover, 52% and 71% of all businesses during January and February respectively reported a decrease, representing decreases of -10% and -18% respectively compared with the same time during 2023. The majority of businesses anticipated decreased bookings for March (64%), Easter (73%) and April (80%) compared with 2023 levels, although the results for March and April may change as we collect data for these months. Businesses continue to be most concerned about the increase in the cost of living generally and decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (74% each and increases of 6% and 15% respectively compared with last month), along with rising energy costs (65% - a decrease of 5% compared with last month).  Download the full report here.