UKH update

The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, gave today’s press briefing.

The Education Secretary gave the daily datasets on UK COVID-19 tests and cases and published the latest scientific data underpinning decisions as well as data on the R Number

Earlier in the day, the Joint Biosecurity Centre confirmed that the UK was moving down to level 3 risk alert, meaning that infections are under control and social distancing can be downgraded from enhanced to relaxed. The devolved administrations have agreed.

During the Q+A he was asked which countries the UK will have travel corridors with. He replied that rather than focusing on corridors, he hopes that people will be able to take time to explore the coast and rural tourism destinations across all four nations of the UK this summer

View the full briefing here.

 

Devolved Assemblies

The UKHospitality protocols for COVID Secure reopening of hospitality and tourism in Scotland have now been published

The Welsh First Minister has made a statement about the next stage of their reopening approach. Stay local advice will remain in force for 3 weeks and be lifted from 6 July. Holiday accommodation can resume opening from 13th July but wider hospitality, pubs and restaurants, will be reviewed and a date set at the next review on 9 July.

He also said that the tourism industry must now use the next three weeks to work with local communities to prepare for reopening

The Scottish Tourism Minister has confirmed that, from 22 June, hotels will be able to accommodate workers required to work away from home, where the distance is not feasible to commute and the work cannot be done virtually. Workers will need to provide reasonable evidence of the necessity of the stay for work purposes on arrival. Guidance is here

 

Other Government updates

A new template is available for employers who will be claiming for 100 or more employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The new form is for claims on or after 1 July.

The Home Office has published the paper considered by SAGE on 27 April 2020, COVID-19 - measures at the border.

The Government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies who are unable to pay their rent. The Coronavirus Act will be amended to extend lease forfeiture moratorium and CRAR ban and the Corporate Insolvency Bill will be amended to extend the debt enforcement moratorium all until 30 September. A new code of practice has been developed with the property sectors to provide clarity for businesses when discussing rental payments and to encourage best practice. Further government intervention is flagged for sectors covered by mandatory closure, such as hospitality.

 

Industry Update

The latest results of the UK Covid-19 Consumer Tracker Report, produced by Visit Britain is now available. Results are 8-12 June and show that confidence in the ability to take a domestic break or holiday continues to gradually improve to 23% in August, 40% in September but remaining at 50% to the end of the year. This remains broadly stable over the last 3 weeks.

Just under a third believe the worst has passed re COVID, significantly up on last week (27%) but just 23% expect normality by September and 49% by December

Travelling on public transport continues to be the activity people are least comfortable in undertaking. Main reasons driving this relative lack of confidence are virtually identical this week, again led by restrictions on travel by government (52%), fewer opportunities to eat or drink out (50%). Suggesting that confidence may improve if restrictions are lifted. 

VisitEngland is hosting a series of free business recovery webinars to help businesses get back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar programme covers a number of topics to provide businesses with practical insight and valuable information from within VisitBritain/VisitEngland and across the wider travel industry. The programme starts on Tuesday 30 June with a spotlight on inbound and domestic research and insight. The full list of webinars and booking information for each webinar can be found on the website