Public urged to re-book UK rural holidays once Covid-19 crisis ends
Everything is connected. Many farms rely on their diversified income to survive. I fear that the loss of tourism income may well deal a death blow to a significant number of smaller farmers in more precarious farming enterprises. This call for action from the CLA makes you think in relation to this issue. The article tells us:
The public have been urged to re-book cancelled holidays in the British countryside once the Covid-19 crisis is over or else it could ‘cripple’ the rural sector.
Millions of people have had to cancel their Easter holiday plans because of the spread of the coronavirus in the UK.
But the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents 5,000 rural tourism businesses, is now urging them to re-book ‘once it is safe to do so’.
Rural tourism is worth a huge £18.5 billion a year to the economy and employs over 600,000 people.
Yet, almost overnight, many businesses have shut down for an unknown period of time. According to the CLA, this is having ‘crippling consequences’.
Many farms now provide holiday lets, camping, bed and breakfasts and farm stays as a way to support their business.