Battle ahead to restore

NORTHERN Ireland is facing an uphill battle to restore consumer confidence following the crippling coronavirus pandemic, it has been warned.

Retail NI boss Glyn Roberts said the biggest challenges when lockdown restrictions ease involve social distancing, public safety and securing the economic livelihood of the high street, including shops, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.

Mr Roberts made the comments in the wake of public outcry over an Aer Lingus flight from Belfast to London where social distancing was virtually non-existent.

He believes the government has a significant role to play if normal rules are ever to apply again.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that we’re going to face a serious drop in consumer confidence when the restrictions are even partially lifted,” he said.

“People will be cautious about how they buy and what they buy.

“In many respects, this could be the worst recession or economic crisis since records began — and I hope I’m wrong about that.

“More and more people are buying online and there’s an issue around how we reanimate town centres and there’s clearly an issue about people needing to feel safe.

“That’s why procedures need to be put in place with regard to social distancing.

“We believe we need a specific document from government on how that will apply to retail.”

Mr Roberts said consumers must feel confident about visiting high streets and town centres.

He added: “We’ve already seen food retailers and pharmacies put social distancing in place and they’ve spent a lot of money on perspex glass and really chang

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ing the format of their stores and that’s expensive. At the end of all of this we’ve got to have high streets and town centres that consumers feel safe and confident to visit again — and that is a massive challenge.

“We need a clear recovery plan for the Northern Ireland economy.”

A Northern Ireland travel agent, however, said that despite air travel safety concerns there was still demand for holidays.

Helen Fielding, who sits on ABTA’S Council of Regions for Northern Ireland, said many people who have had trips cancelled this year have already rebooked.