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">https://twitter.com/CommonsDC...
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& #39;s & #39;soft power& #39; 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& #39;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 & #39;ask& #39; 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& #39;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& #39;s going to be hard, but it& #39;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& #39;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.
