The DCMS Committee is
urging the government to do more to aid the recovery of the UK’s
tourism industry hit hard by the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown
with no indication of when businesses can reopen.
MPs are calling on
ministers to set out what steps they intend to take
to help kickstart the tourism industry and promote ‘safe’ UK
holiday destinations to encourage people to book a staycation
when they are able to do so, rather than an overseas
holiday.
Calls for an additional bank holiday in October to encourage
domestic half-term holidays would merit consideration by
government and could provide an opportunity to
celebrate key workers who have made such an impact on national
life at this time, says the committee.
Industry
representatives this week told the inquiry
into DCMS affected sectors about expected losses from
domestic tourism totalling £22 billion and some businesses being
forced to close permanently.
DCMS Committee
Chair
said:
“Tourism in the UK
has been hit hard by Covid-19, with billions of pounds lost in
revenues. While no-one’s in the position to book a holiday right
now, we can’t sit by and watch businesses forced to close, while
others face a bleak and uncertain future.
“Now is the time for
the government to set out a recovery plan for the tourism
industry and announce how it will be supporting traders facing
huge losses at what should be the start of the holiday
season.
“Boosting the confidence of
the public to look close to home at our incredible holiday
destinations must be part of this plan. The government should
look at calls for an October half-term bank holiday that would
not only help tourism but could give an
opportunity to celebrate key workers who
have made such an impact on national life at this time.”
ENDS
Note to
editors:
Attached to this
email: Letter to , Minister of State for
Sport, Tourism and Heritage, Department for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport
