Cornwall Council has backed a call to get the government to help the coach tour industry despite one councillor questioning the long-term future of the sector.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jackie Bull had tabled a motion at this week’s full council meeting which recommended lobbying the government to provide urgent financial support for coach tour firms.

She said that the sector had been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak with several large operators already having gone out of business.

The St Austell councillor said that hotels which were operated and used by coach tour companies in Cornwall were also at risk.

She said: “The government has supported many sectors of our economy it is about time to support this coach tour industry as well.”

Cllr Bull said that it was “impossible” for coach tours to operate with the current social distancing guidelines and urgently needs help.

She said that 160,000 visitors a year come to Cornwall on coach tours and the industry is worth £45million to the UK economy.

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Cllr Bull added that coach tours were also the only way of going on holiday for some pensioners and were a lifeline.

The motion was seconded by Newquay councillor Joanna Kenny and also backed by Tim Dwelly, Cabinet member for economy at Cornwall Council.

However Newquay Conservative councillor Olly Monks said that while he agreed with the aims of the motion to support the coach tour industry he questioned the longer term future of the sector.

He said: “I am not convinced that a large scale public bail out will help it to survive if a long term sustainable model is unavailable.

“I don’t believe that this motion will do anything to help the medium and long term sustainability of the industry.

“If we really want to send a message of support to businesses in Cornwall we should state as a council that a tourism tax will never be introduced.”

The motion was put to the vote and approved with 68 votes in favour, 11 against and 22 abstentions.