Go New Forest is reassuring visitors with holidays and day trips planned to the New Forest that businesses across the destination remain open, while urging everyone travelling to the area to plan their journeys carefully and continue to follow official advice.
The ongoing fire has caused significant concern, both for the precious New Forest landscape and for those who live, work and have holidays planned in the area.
Go New Forest joins the wider New Forest community in expressing its enormous gratitude to the firefighters, emergency services and all those who have worked tirelessly over recent days to bring the fire under control and protect this internationally important landscape.
The environmental impact of the fire is deeply concerning. The New Forest is home to an extraordinary diversity of habitats and species, and understanding the full effect of the incident and supporting the landscape’s recovery will take time.
However, Go New Forest is also keen to reassure visitors that the New Forest is a large destination and tourism and hospitality businesses across the wider area remain open and continue to welcome guests.
Visitors with accommodation already booked are advised that, unless they have been contacted directly by their accommodation provider to say otherwise, they should assume their stay is going ahead as scheduled.
Holidaymakers are encouraged to contact their accommodation provider directly if they have specific concerns about their stay, rather than cancelling unnecessarily.
Those travelling to the New Forest should check the latest traffic and travel information before setting off and choose the most appropriate route, particularly while disruption associated with the incident continues. Some car parks may also be temporarily closed while the incident continues, so visitors are encouraged to check the latest updates from Forestry England before travelling and plan accordingly. Visitors should follow all instructions from the emergency services and relevant authorities and must not enter areas that have been closed or restricted.
Go New Forest CEO Nic Carass said:
“The scenes we have witnessed over the past few days have been incredibly difficult to see, and our first thoughts remain with the precious landscape that has been affected and with the people working around the clock to protect it.
We also know that the scale of the coverage can understandably leave people wondering whether they should still travel to the New Forest.
Our message is simple: if you have a holiday booked and your accommodation provider has not contacted you to say otherwise, please assume your stay is going ahead. Check the latest travel information before you leave, plan the best route for your journey and follow the advice of the emergency services.
The New Forest covers a significant area and businesses across the destination remain open. Hotels, pubs, restaurants, attractions, shops, campsites and other tourism businesses have fantastic teams ready to welcome their guests.
Alongside the environmental impact of this incident, we must also be conscious of the people and livelihoods that depend upon the New Forest visitor economy. Supporting those businesses responsibly is another important part of supporting our communities during what has been a very difficult few days.
Go New Forest will continue to work with its members and partners to understand both the environmental and commercial impacts of the incident and to provide visitors with clear, responsible information.
Visitors are encouraged to check official travel and emergency service updates before travelling and to contact their accommodation provider directly with any questions relating to an existing booking.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Go New Forest is the destination marketing organisation representing and supporting tourism and visitor economy businesses across the New Forest.
Go New Forest promotes regenerative tourism and works with businesses and partner organisations to help visitors enjoy and understand the New Forest while protecting the special qualities of the destination.
