THE EXECUTIVE is expected to remove its guidance about self-isolating on return to Northern Ireland when travelling within the Common Travel Area (CTA).
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.
Covid-19: NI business leaders react to lockdown plan
Published
image captionPubs are among many businesses which will have to close again
Representatives from Northern Ireland s business community have reacted to the announcement of a new lockdown which will begin on 26 December.
Non-essential shops in NI will close from the end of trading on Christmas Eve in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Close-contact services, such as hair salons, will have to shut and pubs, cafes and restaurants will be restricted to takeaway services. Profoundly disappointing
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts
Retail NI has said the six-week lockdown will result in a tsunami of independent retailers falling and thousands more jobs being lost with permanent damage done to our local high streets .