As Cumbria Tourism continues to support hundreds of tourism businesses as they begin to re-open this summer, the organisation has launched a new business tracker survey to monitor recovery performance.
The survey results will form a vital part of Cumbria Tourism’s research into how businesses are able to navigate their way through the rest of this summer, and into Autumn and Winter, by tracking real-time data on the sector’s recovery.
Businesses will be asked to report back to Cumbria Tourism about the effect of social distancing measures on their booking volumes, provide insight into forward-booking numbers and other information about their customers’ habits, dwell time, spend, needs and expectations.
Supported by sponsors, accountancy firm Lamont Pridmore, the survey will also gather information about changing staffing levels and skills loss.
Cumbria Tourism’s Managing Director, Gill Haigh, says, “When we met with the Tourism Minister last week we impressed upon him the continuing challenges facing our members as operating capacities reduce, costs increase and consumer confidence remains fragile. The Minister was grateful to Cumbria Tourism for the helpful evidence it has provided thus far and asked us to continue to gather and share real time intelligence with Government and partners. Or industry has already lost more than half its income this year, jobs and businesses are already being lost and, whilst grateful for the Government support offered so far, it is crucial we keep them aware of how recovery really looks and feels and seek additional support as required to safeguard jobs.
“Our research puts us in a unique position, giving us the evidence we need to effectively lobby on behalf of local businesses, and our data has been regularly supplied directly to the government and other key bodies to help reinforce our case. We know how busy our businesses are at the current time, but all information we gather will be used to help them in the coming weeks, months and years.”
Businesses are being invited to take part in the survey, here.
