CORNWALL's tourism boss has slammed "'bloody tourists" who visited during the pandemic – sparking debate.
Malcom Bell, the chief executive of Visit Cornwall, made the strong remarks about tourists over the last two years.
He slammed holidaymakers who visited Cornwall when the borders were closed, saying they "didn't want to be there".
He told Cornwall Live: "In the 1970s people were in Cornwall because they couldn't afford a proper holiday and there were a lot of chips on shoulders, and we felt that again in those two years. It had come back around.
"Once you stopped them going abroad, we ended up with people here who didn't want to be here. It's settled down again now."
Mr Bell, who is stepping down next month, added that the "rise in tourism" was a good thing, but that many were not able to manage their expectations.
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He also shared some of the bizarre complaints from holidaymakers.
He continued: "People have complained St Ives doesn't look right because the water's out, someone said they drove over an hour from the north coast to the south coast to find the tide was in there as well, and 'when I came last year the beach was big but now it's small, you should tell people that the tide comes in'."
Similar complaints were rife during the pandemic – one tourist slammed the beaches for having too much seaweed while a dad was said he was quoted a whopping £71,000 for a week's holiday in St Ives.
And one woman said she ended her holiday early as it was too busy.
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However, people have been divided by Mr Bell's comments, with some on his side.
One person said: "Thank you for speaking out about this, and you are right, we do need a cap on the number of tourists in the summer months."
Others didn't think it was fair for slamming tourists, as one called him "extremely rude".
Someone wrote: "You can't blame people for wanting to come here, it's the best place in the country."
Another agreed: "It doesn’t matter what he, or anybody else thinks. People from anywhere in the UK can choose to visit whatever area they want, whenever they want, in their own country."
A Cornish local has revealed how to do a holiday in the region during the summer holidays without the crowds.
And a mum has revealed how to do the perfect Cornwall break with the kids.
We've also rounded up the best cheap seaside hotels in Cornwall, from just £9pp a night.
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