Kentish Express Ashford & District
Tourism hope as doors open again
Kent’s vital tourism economy can begin to rebuild as it faces losses of up to £3.2billion from the coronavirus crisis this year.
Visit Kent’s chief executive officer, Deirdre Wells, described Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to reopen pubs, restaurants and hotels at the weekend as “extremely welcome news” for the county.
Footfall and spend at Kent’s major visitor attractions has dropped by more than 90% since the three-month lockdown was imposed in March. Margate’s Dreamland was one of the major casualties, as 52 workers were made redundant.
However, the new government guidance could save much of Kent’s tourist industry this year. Ms Wells said: “It will enable our businesses to reopen in time for the all-important summer season and to begin to rebuild after an extremely challenging few months.”
Kent’s tourism economy is worth nearly £4billion in a single year and supports 70,000 jobs. Hundreds of firms have told Visit Kent that they are anxious to reopen their doors to holidaymakers. Theatres, cinemas, bingo halls, arcades and adventure parks will be able to do so from Saturday.
The tourism sector predicted between 30% and 80% income losses for many companies just four weeks ago. Ms Wells said: “There will inevitably be some businesses for whom it is still economically unviable for them to open.”
The reduction of the social distancing rule from two metres to one metre-plus - meaning mitigation measures should be introduced to reduce the spread of
Covid-19 infection, such as face masks and screens between people - has been described as a “far more economical way” for businesses to run.
Visit Kent’s chief executive officer added: “For example, for pubs, it means the difference between opening at a third of capacity at two metres and 75% capacity at one metre.
“The guidance which will accompany the new rules will support businesses in opening in a Covid secure way, keeping visitors and staff safe.”
An inquiry reviewing the impact of coronavirus on Kent’s visitor economy will be led by Kent County Council’s scrutiny committee in less than two weeks’ time.
The decision was made by the 13-person committee yesterday during a virtual public meeting. It came just moments after Whitehall’s announcement to reopen much of the hospitality sector in the House of Commons.
Cllr Rosalind Binks (Con), said: “As far as I’m concerned, the visitor economy has to get started again. It’s of excruciating importance to us and an area where KCC does have an influence.”