A campaign is set to be launched to encourage British people to book domestic holidays in seaside towns this Summer.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the Government would be ‘investing extensively’ to help towns like Southport to attract tourists and help local businesses.
An estimated 6,500 jobs in Southport are directly dependent on tourism.
Mr Dowden said: “We’re hoping to get tourism back as rapidly as possible, and when it is back we will be investing extensively, ensuring we have a major campaign to encourage British people to take British staycations.”
Domestic travel agents have said bookings for staycations this summer, starting from mid-July, are looking promising, although September is proving to be the “stand-out month” after a recent surge in reservations.
Mr Dowden also said a proposed new bank holiday in October, designed to boost domestic tourism, was an “excellent proposal”. Experts predict such a move could raise an estimated £500 million for the economy.
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Southport Pleasureland owner Norman Wallis last month joined the calls for the new bank holiday in October, which he believed would provide a boost to businesses in our town.
Oliver Dowden told MPs: “One of the challenges we will have is getting the tourism sector up and running as strongly as possible in the Summer, and extending it for as long as we can.”
The idea of an extra bank holiday to compensate for the impact of the pandemic was proposed last month by the UK’s tourism agency, Visit Britain.
Its acting head, Patricia Yates, told MPs that the industry had lost the benefit of two bank holidays in May because of the lockdown.
She said: “It’s really important to extend the season, and bank holidays are really valuable.
Merseyside Police horses Silver and Oxberry patrol Formby Beach
“Having a bank holiday in the October half term would really drive business and remind people that the holiday season is still going and not just ending in August.”
The culture secretary added that he and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, were “looking at further measures” to support financially hit coastal areas before then.
Private holiday lets, including Airbnb properties, could reopen as early as next month.
Oliver Dowde said the Government’s target was for the sector to reopen by July 4, with self-let properties likely to be among the first to be available because they present a “lower risk” of spreading coronavirus.
Domestic tourism chiefs are hoping for a boom once the lockdown restrictions are eased to allow people to stay overnight away from home.
Campsite and holiday park owners, as well as private rental outfits, have been lobbying the Government to allow them to be among the first in the hospitality sector to reopen, claiming they are already set up for social distancing.
An Airbnb spokesperson said: “The British summer holiday is back on the horizon and hosts are getting ready to provide accommodation away from the crowds that’s local, private, clean and safe.”
At present the website has a booking block on “non-essential” stays until at least July 4, but says it has developed a new “cleaning protocol” for hosts to follow in order to minimise the risk of the virus transmitting.
Sefton Council last week urged people to stay away from the coast to allow Coronavirus cases to continue coming down, as they announced their drive called ‘Wish You Weren’t Here’.
The advice remains in place with people urged to stay away from the seaside this weekend.
Beach car parks and toilets will remain closed.
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