FEATURES:
‘A WAITING GAME’ FOR TOURIST INDUSTRY IN VIRUS LOCKDOWN
IF THE defining image of New York during coronavirus is an empty Times Square, then the equivalent for its much older namesake has got to be York’s Shambles, totally free of tourists.
At this time of year, the ancient cobbled street is usually packed with tourists snapping pictures, peering into windows or huddled together, patiently listening to a tour guide. Yet today, save for a few locals darting through on their way to somewhere else, the narrow street lies vacant and eerily quiet, as though cleared and primed for a film shoot. Tourism was one of the earliest casualties to the coronavirus pandemic, with cautious travellers from around the world cancelling or postponing trips long before the UK lockdown was called on March 23.
It perhaps comes as no surprise, then, that Yorkshire’s tourism-reliant economies have been some of the worst-hit, not only in the region but in the country as a whole. Data for the week ending April 21 shows that overall spending in Whitby, for instance, was down 66 per cent compared to the same week in 2019 – the seventhhighest drop in the UK. York wasn’t lagging too far behind, with data for the same period showing overall spending to be down 51 per cent.
For those who rely on tourists for their income, the outbreak couldn’t have come at a worse time. The warmer temperatures that usually spell a seasonal income boost mean little now, with shops shuttered and would-be travellers stuck at home. And while some of these workers have been able to access help from the Government, the varied and sometimes precarious nature of work in the sector has left many falling through the gaps.
Sean Bullick, Managing Director of Make it York, says that in spite of the evaporation of tourism, the organisation has been busy over the past few weeks trying to support these workers and businesses.
“We’ve been getting ourselves organised to deliver as much support as we can, and advising businesses around things like loan schemes, grant schemes… but also finding out which sectors weren’t receiving help...and feeding that up to central government.”
He points out that touristic towns and cities often see a “quick turnover rate” when it comes to businesses, given historic cities like York are “such an attractive place to be”. As a result, hundreds of fledgling businesses have had difficulty accessing sufficient funds to cover the interruption to trading. “Under normal circumstances, if you wanted to borrow money from the bank, you would typically show three years’ accounts,” Sean says. “But of course if you’ve just set up and you’re new, you won’t have that – and that makes it extremely difficult [for you].”
It’s an issue that Ellen Smith, whose name has been changed for privacy reasons, has come up against while trying to access financial help to cover the loss of her sole income stream – a popular Whitby holiday let. Ellen doesn’t qualify for the £10,000 grant that other businesses have been able to claim. Instead, she’s had to wait for the self-employed income support stream, which promises to pay 80 per cent of the earnings stated on the applicant’s tax return. One of these returns, says Ellen, will have “hardly anything” on it, given it was her first year in business.
“I’ve got a rough idea what it [the Government payout] might be because it’s based on the last three years, but the first year that I submitted my tax return was when I first started...it hardly had anything on it, so it’s not going to be brilliant.”
She considers herself one of the “lucky” ones as her husband’s furlough pay is helping both of them to get by for now, but says that the past few weeks have been “really stressful”, and fears for the future if restrictions stretch on much longer.
It’s a fear shared even by those who have managed to access financial packages from the Government. Leisha De Sancho, who runs an alternative clothing and homewares shop in Whitby, says that while the grant she’s received from the Government will “help pay the rent for a while”, she too worries about the impact if restrictions remain in place for months to come.
She adds, too, that her shop would be practically impossible to operate under social distancing guidelines, if this was the only means of re-opening. “We’ve got low ceilings, it’s really narrow, people are always bumping shoulders...I don’t know how it could be done.” Largely, however, she’s finding reason to be optimistic, with an online store keeping her propped up, and support from the local community keeping her spirits afloat.
Yet for those whose business relies almost exclusively on tourists, the bigger picture looks bleak. Invisible Cities, a scheme which helps the homeless through training them as tour guides alongside a package of other support, has found themselves struggling to support guides since lockdown began. “Our income has dropped significantly, and no walking tours means that all of our guides are at risk financially,” says Kenny Lieske, who heads up the York branch. “Invisible Cities is currently raising money to provide weekly food and household items for its guides, but we’ve become very much dependent on the goodwill of our supporters.”
Mark Graham and his wife, Sharon, are similarly worried for the future of their business – a ghost walk in York. And while he says that funds from the self-employment scheme have been a “big help”, he points out that – contrary to what some may think – running a walking tour has significant overheads.
“As a well-established attraction we advertise in all the tourist publications and produce thousands of printed leaflets…all the bills for these come at this time of year along insurance and accountant bills. We only just paid our six-monthly income tax bill in January.”
It’s a frustration that Whitby tour guide Rose Rylands shares. As well as support for the self-employed arriving much later than for others, the package is means tested – meaning she’s expected to run down her retirement savings before receiving any help. “I feel left at the bottom of the pile right now while everyone else is getting all this [help].”
She’s frustrated, she says, that her hard work on the business for the past 12 years might all go to waste. “I’ve worked really, really hard to get to a stage where moving into my 60s, I’ve got a little business... right now I’m just having to spend my savings... there is no [financial] package for someone in my position to apply for.”
Sean maintains that tourism bodies like Make it York are doing their best to support businesses in the sector through this period, and says that the “attractive offer” of destinations like York will make it easy to get tourism flowing again once possible. Until then, for those working in tourism, it’s an anxious waiting game. And while all those in limbo are worried for their future, they remain grateful for their health and safety.
“We live in hope,” Mark says. “We hope the nation bounces back and visits our beautiful city once again.”
I’ve worked really hard to get to a stage where moving into my 60s, I’ve got a little business. Now I’m having to spend my savings. There’s no financial package for someone in my position.
Whitby tour guide Rose Rylands is frustrated by her situation.