AGTO MATTERS

More than just the ‘b ear’ necessities

Cotswold villages and other picturesque tourist hotspots have been in the news again over recent months with residents criticising the often heavy influx of visitors who drop in, don’t spend anything locally, then head off again. AGTO chief executive, Wendy Hartley-Scarff, considers the situation. You might not be familiar with Chalcot Crescent. With its idyllic Regency-style terrace houses, this north London street, to be found in the Primrose Hill neighbourhood, just to the north of Regent’s Park, has found fame on social media channels following its use as film location in the ‘Paddington’ films, and specifically as the home of the fictional Brown family.

Primrose Hill finds itself described as “a compact, village-like area of grand Victorian terraces and pastelcoloured Regency townhouses.”

It sounds delightful. But a Labour councillor for the area, interviewed by the BBC, was reported as saying: “I've seen people taking selfies right in front of someone's living room window, and you're thinking, you know, if that was me, I'd be a bit annoyed to have my living room put straight on Instagram.”

In the Cotswolds, Bibury, often described as being one of the most picturesque villages in the world thanks to its iconic Arlington Row, is something of a magnet for visitors, especially coach passengers who arrive, are given half-anhour and then off to the next destination on their hectic day out from London.

Back in August 2024, one county and district councillor said: “Whilst traffic congestion is one concern, a greater concern is the economic benefit of all of this, or rather the lack of it. In these popular destinations, people arrive, have a look around, take photos, and leave, quite often spending no money in local shops, pubs or cafes.”

It does seem then that for many visitors, especially if they’re on a schedule, a visit is often little more than a box ticking exercise. Been there, taken a photo, now where next?

And it’s that reference to a schedule that brings all of this back to group travel. If you’re planning to visit a tourist hotspot, especially a small village, are you giving your group enough time to have a cuppa and buy a souvenir? The need for a toilet stop probably means that yes, you are. GTOs do recognise the need to give their groups plenty of time. But making sure our group travel activities are bringing a benefit to the places we visit is important.

I’m looking forward to discussing this very topic as part of a panel session that will be taking place at the British Tourism & Travel Show at the NEC in March.

Sadly, local councillors often seem to lump all coaches and their groups together, thinking every coach does the same thing. For our part then, we do need to ensure that in visiting popular places ourselves, we’re acting responsibly, and giving our groups time to visit the tea rooms, shops and cafes, as well as the toilets.

You get the feeling that Paddington himself would approve!

Broadway , a Cotswolds' tourist hotspot that does benefit economically from group visits