Blackpool MP signs letter urging support for raft of tourism and hospitality firms excluded from Government coronavirus aid

Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard has joined a drive to get more support for tourism and hospitality businesses that don’t qualify for the Government’s coronavirus support.
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Tourism trade associations representing thousands of businesses, together with the Local Government Association, have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him to urgently change the interpretation of his Coronavirus Business Rates Relief Scheme.

At the moment thousands of businesses are missing out because “they are not in premises which customers enter to make a purchase”.

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Kurt Janson of the Tourism Alliance which co-ordinated the letter from eight tourism, English language teaching and transport trade associations as well as the Local Government Association, said: “It is hard to see how these businesses do not qualify as part of the leisure sector in Government eyes. If this is not a lack of understanding, it is a false economy: these businesses generate so much income and so many jobs for local communities that it will be devastating if they go under through lack of support.”

Paul Maynard MPPaul Maynard MP
Paul Maynard MP

Paul Maynard has already appealed for extra help f0r the tourism sector and endorsed the letter.

He said: “As the MP for the nation’s premier seaside resort, I see just how exposed the tourism sector is right now, and how uncertain the future is.

“In Scotland, a £20m fund has been set up for those businesses that aren’t covered by business rates - and we need something similar right now in England - for the many parts of the tourism sector not covered.

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"The whole visitor economy needs support, otherwise even the parts currently getting support may struggle.”

Emma English, Executive Director of the British Educational Travel Association, said: “Last year BETA's 120 plus members served over 36 million young travellers internationally, providing them with study, work and tourism experiences.

"Our members are coach operators, tour operators, language schools and businesses that have a large intrinsic value to the UK economy. To be excluded from a scheme put in place to support tourism businesses due to a lack of understanding is hugely disappointing."

John Wales, chairman of the Coach Transport Association, said: "It is staggering that government has retracted support for the coach industry on the basis it is not part of the leisure sector."