Easter breaks in the country cancelled

Almost two thirds of people who were planning an Easter trip to the countryside have cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, a survey suggested today.

The survey was carried out by NFU Countryside, an affiliate organisation to the National Farmers' Union.

It questioned just over 500 users of its website, www.nfucountryside.org.uk, for the survey. Some 66% of those questioned indicated that they were planning on taking a countryside break over Easter, but of those 65% had cancelled their plans because of foot-and-mouth.

The organisation's head of membership David Hellard said: "The overall impact of foot-and-mouth on the rural tourist trade has been widely noted, but our findings really bring home just how hard the industry is going to be hit over what is traditionally an extremely busy holiday period."

Respondents had voiced a demand for clear, practical information about what visitors can still do in the countryside and where.

Mr Hellard added: "A lot of people are still planning to visit rural areas over the Easter break, and want to do so responsibly, which is good news in itself.

"With the situation changing almost by the minute ... electronic delivery of this type of information is playing an increasingly important role in helping planned rural breaks take place."

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