Sandra Corkin
NITA chief executive, Joanne Stuart, said many in the trade are fighting for survival . We are calling on the NI Executive to recognise the need for tailored support for this sector and utilise the COVID-19 funding to address this gap to ensure survival.
The travel sector s plea comes as the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF) reaches out to the Executive to support hoteliers recovery using its Return to Trading pathway. In it, NIHF chief executive Janice Gault lays out five steps to reopening while listing eight key support measures needed to safeguard the trade as lockdown continues. This includes keeping VAT at 5%, full business rates relief until 2022, a removal of curfew and support with promotion.
Government support calls from Northern Ireland hotel sector after lockdown extension business-live.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from business-live.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
One year on – travel is still so tempting Song Saa is an idyllic island committed to providing employment for the local community and conserving Cambodia’s landscape Janice Gault
Janice Gault
THIS time last year, I was making my way through Hong Kong Airport after spending time in Macau and Cambodia.
It was an amazing trip - Macau is the Asian equivalent of Las Vegas with its own Paris, pyramids and a myriad of casinos.
Lots of shopping, lots of people and that pulsating Asian vibe. From there, it was on to Song Saa, an idyllic island committed to providing employment for the local community and conserving Cambodia s landscape.
The extension of the lockdown until March 5 - and possibly beyond - will mean many independent businesses will be unable to survive, a retail chief has said.
Tourism generated £1 billion last year, but looks to have fallen by more than two thirds in 2020
The Titanic Belfast attraction has changed the tourism footprint of Northern Ireland since its opening eight years ago. It has welcomed over six million visitors from 145 different countries, generating a spend of £319 million.
Yet, after more than nine months of Covid-induced disruption, this jewel in the visitor economy will be forced to close once more as Northern Ireland prepares for a six-week lockdown, beginning on December 26. Non-essential shops will cease trading on Christmas Eve, while pubs, cafes and restaurants will be restricted to a takeaway service. Hotels must close too, apart from for guests who are already booked in.