Seaside resorts will remain closed to visitors until end of coronavirus crisis

Day trippers and holidaymakers will not be able to visit the UK's favourite seaside towns or other tourist hotspots for "some time to come" as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told MPs that "at the moment and for some time to come" people not visit traditional seaside resorts such as Devon and Cornwall.

Mr Gove also confirmed that knowing that coronavirus spreads more easily inside than outside "will be an important factor" when deciding on the easing of certain lockdown measures, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Holidaymakers may not be able to enjoy the UK's seaside resorts (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Tory Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) said: "Would the Secretary of State join me in thanking the Devon and Cornwall Police for their proactive approach in preventing people travelling to Cornwall for non-essential purposes including to visit their second homes and for a holiday.

"One of the biggest concerns of people in Cornwall is that as we start to ease the lockdown, we will start to see an influx of people coming to Cornwall and risk another wave.

"So can my right honourable friend assure me that as the Government considers lifting the restrictions, it will come with clear and enforceable travel restrictions to prevent this from happening?"

Mr Gove replied: "My honourable friend is right, Cornwall is beautiful, visiting it is a pleasure, but at the moment and for some time to come, don't."

There is also bad news for those holidaymakers thinking of a trip overseas.

Countries across Europe are lifting lockdown restrictions, but some such as Greece, Spain and Cyprus are concentrating on attracting domestic tourism first, before opening it their countries to the usual international visitors.

At the weekend Greek minister Harry Theoharis spoke about "specific new rules" for tourism during the coronavirus crisis.

Tourism accounts for 20 per cent of the economy in Greece, with one in five Greeks employed in the industry.

Mr Theoharis told The Guardian: “If we are to think of the possibility of travelling this year it has to be under specific new rules.

“We have to have new rules for hotels, new rules for beaches, new rules for pools, new rules for breakfast buffets, new rules for tour buses.”