GRASMERE, England — The beauty of England's Lake District inspired William Wordsworth to declare, "tranquility is here." In the aftermath of foot-and-mouth disease, some say it's now a bit too tranquil.
The region — famous for hiking and serene vistas — usually sees about 14 million visitors every year. But its peaceful pathways are now closed to prevent the spread of the highly infectious livestock virus. Despite Britain's repeated insistence that the countryside is open for business, many tourists have stayed away.
"Business is ticking over, but we're not setting any records," said Paul Nelson, who runs Baldry's Cafe in the village of Grasmere. "We normally get a lot of American tourists, but not this year."
The Lake District's green glens and rocky hills lie within Cumbria, the northwestern county hit hardest by the livestock epidemic. Of some 1,600 cases of food-and-mouth nationwide, Cumbria has had 700.
John Tattersall of the Cumbria Tourist Board says the resulting decline in tourism threatens 47,000 jobs; hotels, restaurants and shops are already starting to close.
The English Tourism Council says as many as 250,000 tourism jobs are at risk nationwide, and the industry stands to lose $7 billion this year without government aid.
But with the epidemic officially proclaimed under control and the arrival of fine spring weather, businesses in Cumbria are hopeful that they have weathered the worst.
"I think people are starting to say, 'We're going to go anyway,' so business is picking up — but it's still difficult," said Nigel Prickett, who staffs the counter at Sarah Nelson's gingerbread shop in Grasmere.
Locals also worry that foreign visitors who canceled trips to Britain because of the epidemic will not return until next year — if then.
Foot-and-mouth causes wasting in cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep, pigs and cows, but is harmless to humans.
Yet, tales of ill-informed foreigners abound.
"Quite a lot of people from the States have canceled because they believe foot-and-mouth is a threat to them personally, which is distressing," said Robert Woof, director of the Wordsworth Trust, which runs the writer's former home, Dove Cottage.
Sue Savage, who operates a bed-and-breakfast in nearby Ambleside, said one Canadian told her he'd been warned by neighbors not to visit Britain.
"They told him he'd never get out of London because the roads were all blocked."
In a bid to counter the misinformation, the government says it will spend an extra $17 million to advertise abroad. It also announced aid for rural areas, including a $34-million recovery package for businesses. But some say it is not enough.
"This money has been made available for things like marketing — but what it the point of marketing something that is closed?" said John Walker of the Cumbria Crisis Alliance, which rallied outside Parliament last week to demand $17 billion in compensation.
"We haven't seen any of it. There is no mechanism for realizing it. Everything is tied up in red tape and bureaucracy."
"Foot-and-mouth may be under control . . . now let's focus on the tourism."
On the Net: Cumbria Tourist Board: www.cumbria-the-lake-district.co.uk
National Park Authority: www.lake-district.gov.uk/fm.htm