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UKinbound urges govt. to ‘act fast’ amid VisitBritain forecasts
The Chief Executive of UKinbound has told the government to ‘act fast’ after VisitBritain forecasts showed the economic value of international tourism next year will continue to be heavily down on pre-Covid levels.
Josh Croft said the projected spend of £9 billion in 2021 was a ‘stark reminder’ of how strong the industry used to be.
In yet another call for government support, Croft said a failure to act will continue to see jobs lost and drive companies to the wall.
The comments came after VisitBritain forecast a slow recovery next year as a Covid vaccine is rolled out.
"These statistics are a stark reminder that pre-Covid our industry was viable and profitable, worth £24 billion to the UK economy, but in 2021 its value will shrink by a predicted 68% to £9 billion," Croft said.
"Inbound businesses are perfectly placed to support our economic recovery but with thousands of jobs already lost and many businesses forced to permanently close, the Government needs to act fast to ensure viable businesses can survive until the market begins to return in Summer 2021.
"A targeted support package is urgently needed, and last month we submitted a proposal to Treasury for a Tourism Resilience Fund, however this support alone won’t be enough. The Government needs to put in place a best-in-class testing regime for passengers, and a regionalised approach to travel corridors."
He described the new test and release scheme as a ‘step in the right direction’ but said the continuing prospect of self-isolation – for any length of time – will significantly hit demand, risk businesses and cost people their jobs.
"Barriers to business need to be removed," Croft said.
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