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<p>The government has provided over £35 billion in support to the tourism, leisure
and hospitality sectors over the course of the pandemic in the form of grants, loans
and tax breaks.</p><p>The government also cut the rate of VAT for certain UK-wide
supplies in the tourism and hospitality sectors to 5% in July 2021, with this significantly
reduced rate remaining until the end of this month. To help businesses manage the
transition back to the standard rate, a 12.5% rate will then apply for a further six
months until the end of March 2022.</p><p>VisitBritain, the national tourist board,
worked in collaboration with the tourist boards of the devolved administrations to
develop the UK-Wide ‘Good to Go’ COVID-19 Secure Industry Standard, currently in use
by over 45,000 tourism businesses.</p><p>The Tourism Recovery Plan points to a number
of UK-wide initiatives, like the £10 million National Lottery Days Out campaign due
to launch in October. This will stimulate demand for more off-season day trips to
tourist sites across the UK this autumn.</p><p>The plan also announced a new rail
pass launching later this fiscal year to help make it easier and more sustainable
for domestic tourists to get around. The pass is planned to be available in Scotland,
England and Wales.</p><p>I will continue to work together with my devolved counterparts
to assess how we can most effectively support the tourism sector’s recovery.</p>
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