The beautiful UK county that's usually packed with tourists - but something's changed

It's the middle of the summer holidays, the sun has been shining and most seaside resorts are abuzz with families. But the situation couldn't be more different in Cornwall, a tourism boss has said.

The county, renowned as one of the major staycation hotspots in Britain, has suffered a reduction in visitors so far this year - with two huge factors thought to be behind it.

It's home to the likes of Padstow, Newquay, St Ives and Polperro - quaint, but equally beautiful towns that often see a surge in tourism way ahead of August.

Malcolm Bell, the chairman of Visit Cornwall told Express.co.uk the cost of living crisis and the delayed hot weather are thought to have influenced people's holiday habits this year.

He said: "The weather and the cost of living means that we are slightly below where we’d expect to be, but bookings are incredibly late, often within a week of people arriving, so there is still much to play for this summer.

"If people want a great holiday in Cornwall, now is the time to visit our website to see how they can achieve this. After all, holiday memories are made in Cornwall."

The drop in UK holidaymakers comes as a surprise to many, given Europe's ravaging 40C heatwaves which have potential to put people off visiting the continent's sizzling countries like Spain, Greece and Italy.

Instead, Brits are now suffering from less disposable income - and are debating whether to invest their hard-earned cash into a UK holiday; especially with the increasing chances of rain.

What does Cornwall have to offer?

Cornwall is blessed with an array of picturesque beaches that feel miles away from the urban hustle and bustle - making tourists feel like they could be anywhere in the world. Not all of them are loaded with sunbeds and noise, either.

Lantic Bay near Polruan and Kenneggy Sands near Prussia Cove are named as some of the quietest nooks to explore - with unconventional paths leading to secluded areas of the coastline.

Those who have been forced to tighten their purse strings can also visit the county on a budget, with free-entry museums dotted in most towns and organised markets taking place on certain days of the week.

Despite the situation, it isn't isolated to just Cornwall - with neighbouring Devon has also experiencing a similar issue. Its tourist board, Visit Devon, is predicting a 10 to 15 percent slump in visitation on last year.

This could also be higher for some key areas, it's claimed. It too blames bad weather and cost of living as key factors; but Devon also had a serious parasite issue with tap water in the spring which made hundreds of people sick.

While the issue is now resolved, this could have contributed to the late onset of visitors this year. Bosses in Devon are not as optimistic about clawing back some of its lost custom, and has launched a campaign to try and get people living within a two hour radius to come and visit.

But, the late arrival of the summer heat has made some difference already, bosses claim.