Industry leaders from the West Midlands have come together to discuss how the government can provide more support for the region’s tourism businesses during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
The feedback follows the Regional Board for Tourism’s inaugural meeting. The board includes representatives from different areas of the West Midlands, who are experts in sports, culture, conferencing, hotel venues and more.
The board is calling on ministers to facilitate quicker access to the various schemes already available and to create more cash grant support for charities and not-for-profit organisations. The board is also seeking clearer rules for existing business support schemes.
Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, was named chair of the Regional Board for Tourism in November.
Allan said: “We welcome the new business support offered by the government, which will go a small way to mitigate some effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we know first-hand that this is simply not enough for many of our region’s tourism businesses.”
She added that the government must grant support for the “independent, not-for-profit tourism businesses that are not ordinarily in receipt of other revenue funding, or whose business rates exceed the eligibility threshold.”
Allan continued: “We also call upon insurance companies and the government to clarify the Chancellor’s statement that Covid-19 would be classified as an insurable event. To date, insurance companies have rejected the statement, leaving hundreds of businesses confused.”
She concluded that the new board will meet regularly to represent the West Midlands’ tourism organisations and urges individuals within this sector to reach out.
