20/04/2010 - Flights ban boosts local tourism
The ban on flights due to a giant ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano might be causing an economic breakdown for the UK, but bookings at some tourist spots have surged.
Many last-minute reservations were seen in hotels in the Lake District because of the past few days' aviation shutdown, a tourist office said.
Ian Stephens, chief executive of Cumbria Tourism, said: "From a tourism point of view, we are experiencing more positive news than bad.
"April is not the height of the tourism season here so people changing their plans can get the availability they want."
Travel chaos following the ash cloud alert has affected the holidays of thousands of people in the UK who had planned trips abroad, as well as those who are stranded abroad without being able to return home.
Honeymooning couples stuck in the UK are reorganising their plans by booking romantic getaways to the Lake District, leading to a surge in demand for accommodation, Cumbria Tourism added.
Colin Fox, from English Lakes Hotels, said: "We have taken more bookings than we forecast or expected.
"We've had guests who were due to go to Rhodes, and a couple due to go on honeymoon to Egypt coming to the Lakes."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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