Travel and hospitality bosses today warn the UK faces a second summer write off as uncertainty over when restrictions will end squashes demand for holidays and social venues.
Millions of Britons have already booked trips ahead of the Prime Minister s announcement of the country s plan for easing restrictions on February 22 and Matt Hancock has previously predicted a Great British Summer .
But several government figures are hinting coronavirus restrictions could last well into summer - despite fears it will spell the death knell for businesses across the UK when the furlough scheme ends on April 30.
Mr Hancock indicated today tough border measures - Including ten-day isolation at home for all travellers and hotel quarantine for 33 red list countries - will need to be in place until vaccines have been tweaked to deal with variant strains in the Autumn.
#WeMakeEvents gives evidence at DCMS hearing on UK festivals
UK – On Tuesday 2 February, #WeMakeEvents gave evidence during a DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the future of UK festivals, represented by the leader of the campaign’s political group Duncan Bell who detailed the ongoing challenges faced by the live events and entertainment industry.
When asked if there is a problem with people leaving the industry due to COVID-19 Duncan answered that: “Freelancers have been forced to find work elsewhere. In a recent survey of 2,800 people over 30 per cent of freelancers said they have had to leave the industry, and 20 per cent say they hope to come back but are very unsure whether they are able to because of the lack of certainty.” #WeMakeEvents is currently verifying the data from this survey and will be publishing the full report in the coming weeks.
#WeMakeEvents gives evidence to DCMS committee
Friday, 5 February 2021
See the proceedings in full via this link: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/e4cf0a19-99c6-4177-9c3e-fad00caf0548
UK - On Tuesday 2 February, #WeMakeEvents gave evidence during the DCMS select committee inquiry into the future of UK festivals. The campaign’s political group leader Duncan Bell detailed the ongoing challenges faced by the live events and entertainment industry. When asked if there is a problem with people leaving the industry due to COVID-19, he stated: Freelancers have been forced to find work elsewhere. In a recent survey of 2,800 people over 30% of freelancers said they have had to leave the industry, and 20% say they hope to come back but are very unsure whether they are able to because of the lack of certainty. #WeMakeEvents is currently verifying the data from this survey and will be publishing the full report in the coming weeks.
Festivals of a smaller scale could take place safely this summer with proper coronavirus measure in place, UK MPs have been told.
Speaking to the House of Commons Culture Select Committee, Rowan Cannon of festival organisers Wild Rumpus said that, with social-distancing and appropriate safety measures, small festivals should be “as safe as Sainsbury’s”.
“The idea that the festivals can’t go ahead and be socially-distanced is inaccurate,” she continued. “We can absolutely adapt our programming, put infrastructure in place, [and] change the way that we do things, to enable something to happen with social distancing in place.”
Cannon’s comments come as concerns mount in the UK that festival season may be cancelled for a second year in a row due to coronavirus. In January, Glastonbury’s organisers announced that the festival would not be taking place this year, and many fear that its cancellation is just the tip of the iceberg of mass postponements expected for the
Notting Hill Carnival could be cancelled for a second time if social distancing measures continue
VIBRANT: Notting Hill Carnival could face another year online due to challenges posed by the coronavirus (Photo by David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
THE NOTTING Hill carnival faces cancellation for a second time if social distancing measures remain in place throughout 2021, MPs have been told.
Matthew Phillip, the carnival’s chief executive, said the prospect of a second cancellation was “devastating” as he gave evidence to the digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee inquiry into future of UK music festivals.
He continued: “For the carnival weekend specifically it would pose a very big problem. It’s very difficult to hold carnival in its traditional format on the streets with social distancing in place. So, it would be devastating for a second year in a row.”