The vast majority of tour operators bringing visitors into the 海角视频 are to make "large scale" redundancies if the Government does not take urgent action to intervene, a new survey has revealed.
Tourism trade association 海角视频inbound says it believes 88% of operators and destination management companies - responsible for bringing in over 50% of all international visitors - are to make between 25% and 100% of their staff redundant due to the impact of the coronavirus on business.
The shocking results came from 海角视频inbound's survey of members, and said 60% will make further redundancies in August when the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme tapers off. Over half of businesses do not expect to last longer than the next six months.
The body is now calling on the Government "to do much more" to protect the sector's jobs and businesses.
Joss Croft, chief executive of 海角视频inbound, said: “The Chancellor’s latest economic recovery plans clearly recognise the value of hospitality and tourism to the 海角视频 economy which is very positive, however the measures that have been announced will unfortunately not help the many businesses that are involved in inbound tourism.
“Our survey results unsurprisingly reinforce that those tourism businesses that rely wholly on international visitors for their livelihoods are on their knees and that the risk of widespread redundancies and the collapse of previously successful businesses is a very real threat without further Government support."
She said there is a "low awareness" among international travellers of where to go in the 海角视频 outside of London, meaning it is tour operators who generate a "large proportion" of visitation to the nations and regions.
She added: "Sadly, we look set to see significant redundancies from tour operators and the tourism supply chain next month, which means that many communities and businesses throughout the 海角视频 who depend on significant revenue from international visitors will also suffer.
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“Our inbound tourism industry is a vital part of the 海角视频 economy and we simply cannot recover or level up our economy without the value that international tourism brings to all regions of the 海角视频.
“We face considerable and exceptional challenges as our sector looks to survive the impacts of COVID-19 and we are calling on the Government to do much more to protect the jobs and businesses who will be vital to our long term economic recovery and the Government’s ambitions for a truly global Britain.”
The results of the survey also showed that the number of businesses expected to turn over more than £500,000 from international visitors will fall to just 34% in 2020, compared to 71% in 2019.
The number of businesses expected to turn over more than £5m from international visitors in 2020 will fall to just 2% from 27% in 2019.
They highlighted the broader impacts of Covid-19 on the 海角视频’s tourism sector which contributed £145.9bn to GDP in 2019, and is responsible for 3.3m jobs.
Stephen Broughton, owner and managing director of Mountain Goat Tours, which specialises in personalised tours in the North of England and Wales, said his business has been operating for over 40 years and normally turns over £2m revenue annually.
He said last year, over 50% of revenue came from overseas visitors, adding: “Whilst the lifting of quarantine measures is very welcome – the reality remains that we are already over half way through the tourism season and many people will be reluctant to travel overseas for some time. We are hopeful that we will be able to increase our share of domestic visitors this year but social distancing requirements on transport is also making this side of the business unviable.
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“An extension of the job retention scheme until the tourism season starts again next March would be fantastic and would make all the difference to the survival of our business. Our most valuable asset is our staff and we are in an area where tourism is the main source of employment. We need to do everything we can to maintain a livelihood for them. ”
Conservative MP for Crawley, Henry Smith, added: “Our travel and tourism industry have been amongst the hardest hit sectors by the impacts of COVID-19 and will take longer to recover than other sectors as a result of the collapse of overseas visitors to the 海角视频.
“We need to ensure that travel and tourism businesses are able to survive the long-term impacts of Covid-19 and when circumstances allow play their role in our wider economic recovery. We simply cannot allow such an important industry to collapse and damage the communities throughout the 海角视频 who are dependent on them.
“These businesses can and will recover but only with Government support that reflects their vital importance to a truly global Britain.”