Coastal challenges

Minister accepts case for resorts

THIS NEWSPAPER has previously argued that tourism policy remains slightly incongruous as part of Oliver Dowden’s brief at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

It is, after all, one of the country’s most important industries – it is worth £9bn a year in Yorkshire alone – and drivers of economic growth.

But it is significant that Mr Dowden, as Culture Secretary, accepts that Britain’s coastal resorts will be in need of special attention once it is safe for the Government to further ease the Covid-19 lockdown.

Proud towns that were in need of investment and renewal before the pandemic struck, this will be even more urgent if most, if not all, of the critically important 2020 summer season is lost to the virus.

And when pressed on the hardship that workers in seaside towns are facing with a lack of visitors, Mr Dowden told MPs that he, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, were “looking at further measures”.

It remains to be seen if this includes reducing VAT in the tourism sector to five per cent, as advocated by some, or the acceleration of policies to improve transport links and boost skills training.

But this is the first recognition, nearly a year after The Yorkshire Post first called for a dedicated Minister for the Coast, that a senior Cabinet member accepts the argument.

And, furthermore, it is encouraging that the Minister intends to make funds available for a campaign to promote ‘staycations’ when the time is right. On this evidence, Mr Dowden’s commitment is a welcome one. But he still needs to deliver for the tourism industry – and that will be his greater test.