NIKNAK
I doubt if Cornwalls' tourist industry will have any future if it hopes to rely on families driving down for a 2 week holiday.
1. The weather is too unreliable- it is far cheaper to holiday in a more sun sure destination.
2. The current surfing craze has brought the first investment for years to many of Cornwalls' north coast resorts. Newquay was not thriving before the advent of Ryanair, but was cheap and tacky a classic example of the worst of English run down seaside resorts, it has degenerated into its current mess precisely because of the decline in people taking family holidays in Corrnwall, not the other way around. However due to the new found and increasing popularity with the surfing community and probably more particularly the Sloan hangers on who aspire to buy in to the surfing community, there is now evidence of properties being renovated and new projects, for example Rick Stein is proposing a substantial and quality redevelopment to an old and run down cliff top Hotel in the town centre. The national surf centre on Fistral beach is a recently completed example of what the new investment has achieved, more of this type of high quality development and Newquay could start to rival some of the best surfing resorts of Southwest France.
3. In my view the future of Cornwalls' tourist industry depends upon being able to continue to attract the growing number of people who come for a short break at short notice when they know the weather and/or surf is good. It is easy to knock those who come down with out much money to spend, but their presence is vital to creating the 'surf dude' atmosphere that attracts those with the money to places such as Newquay.
As any one who has attempted to drive to/from Cornwall on a Friday/Saturday and increasingly Sunday will know, the traffic can be appalling, definitely no incentive especially when driving with children.
The rail service is such a joke as to be hardly worth a mention, but even if you were to use it, once in Cornwall a car is essential due to the lack of useful public transport, unless you plan to stay in Newquay for 2 weeks (it is one of the few resorts with a railway station).
Unless road/rail links are improved substantially.....(2 chances), then air travel is the only way of making Cornwall more accessible to the rest of the UK and vice versa. This was stuck in a rut with the BA Dash 8 service, which stifled demand through high fares and poor capacity. The Local authorities might have begun to realise this but they are not noted for their sharpness and foresight as THE DUDE points out, and are probably terribly confused by the turn of events they just need a little firm guidance. Hopefully this will be forthcoming before RAF St Mawgan/Newquay airport is sold off and turned into a business park. It is already too late for Plymouth airport due to local authority weakness in the face of the NIMBYS.
Not withstanding the double standards shown by the French regarding subsidy, their local authorities have all realised that finding the cash to attract Ryanair pays dividends, all that is required is for Cornwall County Council, R.D.A. etc. to get the message, and put the case to the taxpayers that this is a good investment of their money and will make us all richer in the long run.