“The headlines were appalling,” said Chris Hart, chairman of the English Riviera BID Company.
He said: “We were able to demonstrate to SWW that there were around 3,500 pieces of negative coverage about Brixham and the wider Devon area, not just here but across the world.
“Our research showed that around £34m of bookings were lost at the time of the outbreak, with an estimate £6m in future bookings also lost.”
Much of the money would be spent on a national TV advertising campaign, with one advert already in production, he said.
He added: “The aim now is to use the funding to repair the reputational damage that has been caused, and to present Brixham and the English Riviera in a really positive light, showing off the great area this is.”
