Cumbria Tourism Chief is looking for clear guidance on whether hotels will be closed

Monday, March 23, 2020

After responding on Friday evening to the impressive coronavirus press conference, the managing director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh explained that the organization was looking for perfect guidance “at the highest” levels in regards to whether accommodation providers would fall into the same bracket like the venues who have been told to shut down temporarily.

The Government sates clearly that it would shut down “areas where people are gathering for social reasons”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mentioned that all cafes, pubs and restaurants, along with night clubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres, will remain closed in a bid to stop the covid-19 spread even though cafes, pubs and restaurants will be allowed to provide take out services.

Mrs. Haigh stated that Cumbria Tourism representing about 2,500 businesses in the county – had called on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to provide that right guidance on the same. “There is a real lack of clarity about whether accommodation providers should remain open,” she said.

“At this stage we do not believe the definition provided by the Government includes accommodation. We will continue to press for the answers business urgently need at the highest levels.”

Across the county, all accommodation providers were preparing for a busy Easter when coronavirus spread fears compelled many customers to cancel bookings. In a desperate move, some of them have been heavily discounting room rates to attract customers.
In the meantime, few of the visitors have showed their intention to visit the county in this situation, creating severe backlash on social media platforms like the ‘I Love the Lake District’ Facebook page in light of Government recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to the commoners.

To quote the owner of Rothay Manor Hotel, in Ambleside, Jamie Shail, “We find ourselves stuck in a Dantesque limbo where we need to trade to pay bills and support our staff, whilst at the same time we are asked to play our part in being socially responsible to help prevent the spread of covid-19.”

« Back to Page