BUSINESSES are confident Weymouth will bounce back amid concerns seaside resorts risk becoming permanent “ghost towns” as economies are hit by reduced visitor numbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Towns and villages heavily reliant on seasonal tourism are said to be facing an unprecedented challenge, as the public heeds government social distancing advice to stay indoors.

The District Council’s Network (DCN), which represents many local authorities in England’s tourist and culture locations, is calling for the Government to provide financial support to areas most at risk to help them eventually recover. But business owners and leaders in Weymouth say the town will ‘bounce back’ and ‘thrive’ as residents have rallied round during the coronavirus crisis and tourists are pledging to return.

Weymouth Mayor Cllr Graham Winter said: “I think there’s enough resolve in the town that we’re going to bounce back. I can see where there may be some negative thought, I think it is going to hit tourism very hard.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity for the councils and the community to work together to rebuild when this is all over.”

Craig Oakes, president of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said that the current situation is ‘challenging’ but the town’s tourism industry will do all it can to welcome back visitors.

He said: “When the coronavirus outbreak finally levels off and people are able to move freely, I think that there will be an initial period where people may be wary. After that, people will be more inclined to staycation, for a while at least, and will look to visit seaside towns again.”

“In Weymouth and Portland, I know that our tourism industry will do whatever it can, as usual, to welcome visitors and those businesses that make it through, and many will. They will make full use of the opportunity of people finally being able to meet up again and spend time socially to create a totally welcoming atmosphere as they have always done here.

“Investment is always needed in our area and we often get overlooked, but the people here have an outstanding and unique community spirit.”

Claudia Moore, of Weymouth BID, said it is using the slogan #ComeBackLater, which has had a positive response.

She said: “The feeling from our We Are Weymouth followers is that they will be back just as soon as they are able and are hoping to spend at least half the summer here.

“House and other rental bookings are being postponed and there is good reason to think that many people will staycation in the UK rather than go abroad.”

Business owners feel that visitor numbers will get back to normal and even increase.

Paul Cocks of Oasis Café said: “I have absolutely no doubt that visitor numbers will get back to where they were, and possibly even higher, once restrictions have lifted. I do not see any risk of Weymouth becoming a ghost town as its popularity for both short and long breaks has been on the rise for a while. My only fear is that a number of tourism businesses will not actually survive the lockdown.”

Lynne Fisher of St Johns Guesthouse has seen a number of visitors posting on social media saying that once the lockdown is lifted they will be back in Weymouth and, although it is not known what restrictions there will be on flights abroad once the lockdown has been lifted, she hopes people will choose a staycation in the UK.

Mark Crane, DCN’s lead member for stronger economies, said: “Some of our finest, most picturesque and beautiful tourist villages and towns, including those rich in cultural importance and heritage, face an unprecedented challenge.

“These are places dependent on seasonal demand in order to survive, which are usually guaranteed large numbers of visitors week in week out, but this year this is sadly unlikely to be the case.

“With people rightly staying away to minimise the spread of infection, this could have a devastating impact on many places that rely on the tourism industry.”

The DCN said many tourist towns and villages would normally expect a large increase in footfall over the Easter period, but are instead anticipating “plummeting” visitor numbers.

It is calling on the Government to ensure councils are sufficiently funded so they can support local businesses and boost future high street funding for all towns.

The DCN said short-term “emergency intervention” could secure the future of seasonal businesses and save livelihoods.