Cumbria Tourism is calling on the county’s MPs to back calls for Government assistance for the sector in the wake of the impact of Plan B.
After a disastrous first part to the year, when lockdown and restrictions closed businesses, the summer period saw strong demand across the county, although, the organisation said, this was frustrated by staff shortages forcing many businesses to reduce normal service and therefore ability to recoup lost income.
A Cumbria Tourism spokesman said: “Christmas and New Year is always an important time for tourism and hospitality businesses and the last main opportunity for them to generate income to help see them through the traditionally quieter winter period.
“After two very difficult years this festive season was more critical than ever, but with the arrival of the new variant and the Government implementation of Plan B and associated messaging, many businesses have seen a sharp downturn in demand over recent days.”
Cumbria Tourism has written to the county’s six MPs, urging them to back cross industry calls including:
- An extension of the discounted VAT rate to stretch beyond its scheduled end date of March 2022
- Business Rates due in the first quarter to be deferred
- An instruction from Government to councils to release grants and rates relief to those in need
It says by doing so, it will help protect Cumbria’s tourism sector and its workers after another extremely difficult year.
Cumbria Tourism managing director Gill Haigh said: “We can be proud of Cumbria’s tourism industry’s resilience and readiness to adapt, always ensuring community, staff and visitor safety is a priority.
“We are also grateful to Government for all its support to help keep many heads above water. However, the impact of the reaction to the Omicron variant is creating serious anxiety for businesses who have not been able to recover and we are therefore urging our MPs to add their support to calls for government intervention and emergency support.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has already written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, asking the Government to provide support for businesses.
In his letter, Mr Farron echoed calls from the British Chamber of Commerce for the Government to bring forward a raft of measures to support businesses, including:
- Reducing VAT for hospitality and tourism to five per cent
- Reinstating 100 per cent business rate relief for retail
- Reintroducing grants for businesses
- Reintroducing the furlough scheme
He said: “The dramatic spread of the Omicron variant will naturally lead to many people deciding to spend much of the Christmas period at home.
“As a result, businesses – especially in the hospitality, leisure, tourism and events sectors – are going to be inundated with cancellations over the next few weeks.
“Christmas and New Year is such an important time for these businesses, so we cannot underestimate the impact this will have on them and the potential of it leading to them closing and staff losing their jobs.
“That’s why it’s absolutely critical that the Chancellor announces a package of financial support for local businesses today.”
