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<p>COVID-19 has had a significant impact on inbound tourism and the wider tourism
industry. From last March, inbound flight arrivals were down 90% for over a year compared
to 2019 levels, hotel occupancy far lower than normal, and the sector was closed for
at least six of the last 12 months - more so in some parts of the country subject
to local lockdowns last autumn.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We also know that tourism
has been the sector most reliant on the government’s unprecedented package of support
measures. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was crucial in saving tourism jobs,
which at its peak supported 87% of hospitality and leisure businesses. In total, at
least £25 billion has been provided to the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector
so far over the course of the pandemic.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In June, we
published the Tourism Recovery Plan to help the sector recover back to pre-pandemic
levels and build back better for the future. The plan aims to recover domestic tourism
to pre pandemic levels by 2022 and international tourism by 2023; both at least a
year faster than independent forecasts predict.</p><p> </p>
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