BVEP - Business Visits and Events Partnership

TIER Updates

Message on behalf of TIER: COVID-19 update (13 August)

Here is today’s update, which includes the latest Consumer Sentiment tracker report from VisitBritain (full report attached). Also included is VisitBritain’s report on consumer sentiment in France and Germany that was shared yesterday, as we realised that some people had trouble opening yesterday’s link.

Consumer Sentiment Tracker report from VisitBritain (Week 12)

Please find attached the latest draft of our UK COVID-19 Consumer Tracker Report for week 12, based on fieldwork from 3-7 August. Some key findings from this week:

A continuation of negative publicity surrounding local lockdowns and retraction of some travel corridor exemptions from quarantine continues to have an impact on results. Over half of UK adults (51%) believe that the worst is still to come, a significant increase on week 11 and the highest level so far since the survey began.

Only 15% are now expecting ‘normality’ by the end of this year and confidence in the ability to take a domestic trip between Oct-Dec continues to slowly decline to 38%. For those lacking confidence around winter trips, concerns around catching coronavirus is a major factor (with 52% citing this) but in second and third positions we see people saying ‘restrictions on travel from government’ and ‘it’s not responsible to travel’, which may be linked to new self-quarantine rules on returning from some destinations.

More positively, over half (57%) of Summer Intenders have already planned their trip and 49% have committed to booking it. Of course, the broader challenge is encouraging more bookings from Winter Intenders (for trips between October 2020 – March 2021) which currently stands at 20%, although this proportion has reassuringly increased again this week.

Other points of note:

• At just 12%, significantly fewer UK adults think ‘the worst has past’ regarding the coronavirus situation compared to last week. This represents the lowest proportion recorded thus far in the survey.
• As for when people feel things will be returning ‘close to normal’, this is also exhibiting decline. As might be expected, fewer UK adults (3%) are predicting ‘normality’ to return by September. However, if we extend the time horizon to the end of the year, we now only see 15% expecting ‘normality’ by December. This is a significant decline on the 22% reported in week 11.
• After four weeks of decline, confidence in the ability to take a (hypothetically booked) UK holiday during August increases slightly to 31% (+1%) as fieldwork took place the first week of August. However for the October-December period we see another decline to 38%
• The main reason cited among those lacking confidence is having ‘concerns about catching COVID-19’, equally for trips during summer and the winter period. Other barriers for both summer and winter trips are now linked to ‘restrictions on travel from government’ and concern that ‘it’s not responsible to travel in this period’ which may be linked to fears over a second wave.
• The proportion expecting to go on a domestic short break or holiday by this September has fallen for the third consecutive week to 19%, although this figure is likely to diminish through the summer as holiday intenders become takers. 30% of adults intend to, or have already taken a domestic short break or holiday between July-Sept.
• Over half of Summer Intenders have already planned their trip (57%), with 49% claiming to have also already booked it. The level of commitment from Winter Intenders is substantially lower, with 24% at the planning stage and 20% claiming to have booked their trip.
• Of the reassurances people are seeking in order to feel comfortable staying with an accommodation provider, measures to reduce contamination (e.g. hand sanitisers and enhanced cleaning regimes) are as important as booking incentives such as ‘free cancellation’ (60%) and measures designed encourage social distancing. A government or industry certification mark is cited by 49%, again up on last week.

  Reducing transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19)

The government has published guidance summarising advice for the public to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and rounding up resources to find more information. 

Other government updates

• An online calculator for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now available to help employers determine how much to pay furloughed employees, how much to claim for employer NICs and pension schemes and how much to claim back for claim periods ending on or before 31 October 2020.
• A webinar about claiming a second grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is now available.

  Situation update 13 August 2020

• To see the number of cases of COVID-19 in England and the UK visit the UK COVID-19 dashboard.
• To see the number of cases globally see the World Health Organisation dashboard.

TOURISM ALLIANCE UPDATE – 13 AUGUST

• Love Culture Week

As part of the Government’s ongoing “Enjoy Summer Safely” campaign, next week will be “Love Culture Week” which will highlight museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries, cinemas and cultural organisations across the UK. Part of this week includes “Throwback Thursday” where they want people to use the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday to post pictures from UK holidays and day trips of the past and say why you can’t wait to visit again.

More information and a toolkit is available on the following link

https://dcmsblog.uk/enjoy-summer-safely-toolkit/ 

• Face Coverings Exemptions Toolkit

I’ve attached a copy of the updated Face Coverings Exemption Toolkit. Of particular note for frontline staff are the exemptions from the mandatory need for use face covering in public indoor areas of tourism business that are not associated with the provision of food and beverages. The exemptions include:

• young children under the age of 11
• not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause a person severe distress
• travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate

• Economic Impacts of Coronavirus

The latest ONS data has been released which contains some worrying data:

• 42% of businesses in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector reported that operating costs are exceeded turnover
• 16% of food and accommodation businesses are still not open (and 33% of the arts, entertainment and recreation sector)
• 33% of food and accommodation businesses report that business is down by over 50%
• only 14% of food and accommodation business report that turnover has not been impacted or has increased – compared to 40% across UK industry as a whole

https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/coronavirusandtheeconomicimpactsontheuk/13august2020

• Excess Mortality

Not the most cheery subject but the Government has produced a series of regional studies on excess mortality across England. There are some interesting take-outs from the data

• There were significant number of non-attributed excess deaths when the Coronavirus outbreak was at its peak suggesting that the actual number of associated deaths may have need higher than the official figures
• In most areas, the level of excess deaths has been negative since June – meaning that although people have still been dying from Covid, the total number of deaths is lower than expected because people have not been going out and doing things which are a risk to their lives.

 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excess-mortality-in-english-regions

VEWG UPDATES – 13 AUGUST

New dates available for HMRC’s business support webinars

• Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and flexible furloughing webinar

  – Friday 14 August 14:15 – 15:15.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, Universal Credit and Child Benefit webinar – Tuesday 18 August 14:15-15:00, Wednesday 19 August 15:45-16:30, Thursday 20 August 11:15-12:00 and Friday 21 August 09:45-10:30.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme webinar – Thursday 20 August 12:45-13:30.

NHS Test and Trace App

The new NHS Test and Trace app begins the trial phase today with residents on the Isle of Wight and NHS Volunteer Responders across England. This will be followed shortly by residents in the London borough of Newham, as part of the country’s NHS Test and Trace service. For more information please see here.

Plastic Packaging Tax consultation

This consultation was due to close on 20th May, however the deadline for responses was extended to 20th August. Please find the consultation here.

Transport data

The Department for Transport has updated the latest data on use of transport during COVID-19. You can find more information here.