Calls for extra bank holiday for Brits in September after miserable May washout
Since the introduction of lockdowns and Covid restrictions, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector have struggled to make ends meet – and are asking the Government for a helping hand later in the year
16:44, 6 MAY 2021
One hospitality boss said it would be a boost to business, the economy, jobs and investment (Image: Getty Images)
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Travel and hospitality bosses are calling for an extra bank holiday in September in a bid to recoup losses suffered because of dismal weather in May.
Chiefs across the industry are heaping pressure on the government after the washout weekend at the start of the month, which saw diners forced to huddle under umbrellas in pub gardens or stay at home.
For many businesses, it was only the second bank holiday that they had been able to open for in 14 months.
Bernard Donoghue, head of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), has repeatedly called on the Government to introduce a new bank holiday for 2021 at the end of September, to thank the NHS and key workers and help the tourism industry repair our balance sheets.
Dumfries and Galloway tourism leader says industry needs support now more than ever
VisitScotland s regional leadership director Paula Ward said the sector had been waiting for Monday s relaxation of coornavirus restrictions for a long time
Left to right: Lesley Watson (SSDA), Richard Herman (Galloway Activity Centre), Paula Ward (VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director), Melanie and John Allen (SSDA and Melanie is a member of the Board of SSDA) and Gowan Miller from SSDA. (Image: VisitScotland / PRImaging)
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Country Life
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A huge drop in visits to the best museums, zoos and houses in Britain has prompted calls for an extra day s holiday at the end of summer to help us all enjoy them.
The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) is calling for an extra Bank Holiday this year, in September, after last week’s release of dismal 2020 figures. Over the past 14 months, most visitor sites have been closed for every single Bank Holiday and the total number of visits to ALVA’s top 294 sites in 2020 was 45.4 million, down 70% compared with 2019’s 151.3 million.
Unsurprisingly, outdoor attractions have fared well in the rankings, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which moved up seven places to become the fourth most-visited attraction of the year, and RHS Garden Wisley, which leapt 21 places to seventh. Kew’s Wakehurst in Sussex jumped 86 places to 28th and Longleat, Westonbirt Arboretum and Horniman Museum and Gardens didn’t do badly either.