Inbound travel association UKinbound has written to the chancellor outlining four key demands – amid “deep concern” over ministerial “rhetoric” about holidays.
The letter comes ahead of the Budget on March 3 and the prime minister’s statement about lockdown rules, which is expected on February 22.
It asks the government to set out the plans for coming out of lockdown and reiterates requests for a range of financial support measures.
The letter also said the government’s “current rhetoric” regarding international travel to the UK and its branding of holidays as “illegal” is of “deep concern”.
Joss Croft, chief executive of UKinbound, said “Since the removal of travel corridors and the introduction of quarantine hotels, our members have received hundreds of cancellations for spring 2021, with people moving their trips to later in 2021 and into 2022.
“As long as quarantine is in place, cancellations will continue, and people will be put off booking a trip to the UK this year.
“Many inbound tourism businesses have taken out loans, but they are beginning to run out of cash reserves and have no idea when they’ll be able to start welcoming back international visitors again.
“This is why we need the prime minister to publish a roadmap to reopening the tourism sector on February 22.
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“When people can travel again, we expect strong demand, but our industry can’t open back up overnight.
“The chancellor needs to recognise that we have a long road to recovery and that tourism businesses need support today to ensure they’re able to survive long enough to support the UK’s economic recovery.”
The four key demands in the letter are:
• Pathway out of restrictions statement on February 22 – to restore confidence and allow businesses to effectively plan, the prime minister needs to address the re-opening of borders and how this will happen
• Retain furlough – as long as there are significant restrictions in place, such as social distancing and travel restrictions, businesses need help retaining their staff
• Tourism resilience fund – allocate targeted support in the form of grants to inbound tourism businesses that have had virtually no business since March 2020
• Extend business rate relief – a key cost for tourism businesses, extending the 100% Business Rates Relief scheme for 2021-22 would help the industry recover and rebuild. This relief, along with Covid-19 busines support grants, also needs to be made available to all sectors including tour and coach operators, language schools and event organisers and suppliers
There are more than 300 UKinbound members, who are being encouraged to write to their MPs asking them to support the industry and lobby the chancellor about these demands.