‘Coastline being eaten up!’ Londoner who moved to Devon describes holidaymaker horror

Suzy Bennett wrote in The Telegraph that she moved to Devon 14 years ago to enjoy its “raw, wild countryside”.

However, she said: “No longer is it a place you pass through on the way to Cornwall, but a destination in its own right.”

Bennett added: “Single-track roads are clogged with cars and tourist coaches. The countryside and coastline is being eaten up by huge caravan parks.

“And there’s a chronic housing shortage, partly because homeowners are renting their properties to the lucrative holiday let market, rather than local people.”

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She added that competition was fierce when new houses were put on the market with one cottage getting 70 viewings.

Overtourism is a contentious issue in many areas of the UK as the popularity of staycation booms.

Many Britons who choose to holiday in the UK during the pandemic are now more likely to continue to holiday at home.

While Cornwall is still busier than Devon, the neighbouring county is attracting a lot of attention.

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The tourist crush could be eased if more people decide to holiday outside of the peak school holiday period.

Meanwhile, several tourist spots in Dorset have seen residents calling for a tourist tax to combat the impact of visitors.

Residents in Bournemouth and Christchurch have demanded a tourist tax due to the amount of trash left on the area’s beaches.

However, a councillor in the area has said that tourists already generate a lot of income for Bournemouth.