Read on Twitter
1/ UK tourism sector is fortunate to be represented by such a formidable group of advocates as @patriciayatesVB @bernarddonoghue @SamCRichardson @HMcG_DGNT and @BHHPA Some takeaways below. https://twitter.com/CommonsDCMS/status/1262660419568705537
2/ Current @VisitBritain modelling suggests inbound tourism will not recover for a couple of years. Very different to past crises (e.g. SARS, F&M) where recovery was much faster.
3/ Tourism is a powerful lever of Britain's 'soft power' and should factor into foreign policy thinking. More international marketing spend needed. Australia spends more just in China than we spend globally.
4/ Most of the leading attractions in Britain are almost wholly dependent on ticket income. They've lost a whole season. Some of the most important destinations in the world now have a question-mark hanging over their financial sustainability.
5/ 90% of all inbound leisure tourists stay for less than 2 weeks. Imposing a 14-day quarantine eliminates most of the market for the foreseeable future.
6/ Sentiment research so far shows that Chinese people are ‘less than impressed’ with UK handling of COVID. Likely to affect recovery of that key market.
7/ @kevinbrennanmp proposes a Cultural Attraction Saving Trust (CAST) - a sort of endowment to support cultural attractions. (Not a bad idea, even in normal circumstances...)
8/ A clear 'ask' from @alva_uk: (a) Business Rates exemption for all local authority attractions; (b) Furlough extended to the end of the year; (c) Creative approaches to supporting smaller, independent attractions like science centres
9/ @bernarddonoghue : "Tourism hit first, hit hard, and will take longest to recover"
10/ Coastal communities have seen 74% of businesses closed - 7% permanently. Some 20-25% of accommodation stock could ultimately be lost. A third of all visits to the coast happen in July and August. "This happened at the worst possible time".
11/ @SamCRichardson : "2020 is about survival, 2021 about recovery. Unlikely to see much reinvestment in capacity before 2022."
12/ Phased re-opening of NT properties expected. First parks and gardens. Historic houses probably not before late-August. 3 months of complete closure then 9 months at 50% capacity. No non-essential capital projects or new acquisitions before next March.
13/ @HMcG_DGNT : "Really important for the mental well-being of the nation that we can get out and access places like the National Trust. People need safe spaces and access to nature."
14/ Great to hear to @HMcG_DGNT call for local authorities to support the smaller heritage organisations for the contribution they make to communities and their sense of place.
15/ While praising individual funders for their response and generosity, calls for @DCMS to take a lead, pooling resources to make funding more efficient. "Disparate pots used in different ways" is not the best solution.
16/ "If there is a silver lining at all, it has been the nation's absolute realisation that access to green space is important to their physical and mental health, their sense of community and their sense of belonging to a place."
17/ Question of the day goes to @KevinBrennanMP who tries to get @nationaltrust to take over the Houses of Parliament refurb project ... YES, I fully endorse that idea! (Skillfully dodged by Hilary, by the way)
18/ Common theme from all representatives neatly summed up by HM here: "This year's going to be hard, but it's the next two years that will be critical for the sector"
19/ Clear ask for clarity over government policy on opening ticketed venues. In first month of closure NT lost members at 4 times the usual rate. And membership - which is 51% of NT revenue - can't be replenished with closed properties.
20/ @CommonsDCMS just got a crash course on the fragile economics of tourism businesses that face highly seasonal markets and care for hugely important assets. One bad season knocks the cashflow for a couple of years. You lose a season altogether and it becomes a crisis.
