Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has warned Britons they will be unable to holiday in UK tourism hotspots “for some time to come”. There are fears that many workers with pre-booked annual leave who had been hoping to travel abroad will now be turning their sights to a holiday in Britain.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told MPs yesterday that “at the moment and for some time to come” people should not travel to visit popular resorts such as Cornwall.
Residents of many beauty spots across the UK including Cornwall and Snowdonia have made it clear that they do not want visitors while the coronavirus is still a risk.
Many residents have even put up home made signs urging non-locals to go home.
Tourism bosses have been working on proposals to allow some businesses and attractions to open.
However, many concerns remain over how this will impact social distancing.
Visit Britain has said options for restarting the tourism trade include restricting the number of people allowed through the door of theme parks, museums and gardens.
Another restriction could be to allow visitors to buy time-restricted tickets. to avoid overcrowding.
Council patrols to police beaches, piers and proms have also been discussed.
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The Foreign Office imposed a ban on all but essential international travel on March 17.
This measure was later extended indefinitely and is yet to be lifted.
There are no signs as of yet when this measure will end.
Mr Gove’s comments came after Tory MP Steve Double, for St Austell and Newquay, said: “Would the Secretary of State join me in thanking the Devon and Cornwall Police for their proactive approach in preventing people travelling to Cornwall for non-essential purposes including to visit their second homes and for a holiday?
“One of the biggest concerns of people in Cornwall is that as we start to ease the lockdown, we will start to see an influx of people coming to Cornwall and risk another wave.
So can my right honourable friend assure me that as the Government considers lifting the restrictions, it will come with clear and enforceable travel restrictions to prevent this from happening?”
Mr Gove replied: “My honourable friend is right, Cornwall is beautiful, visiting it is a pleasure, but at the moment and for some time to come, don’t.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Griffith, Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs, called for garden centres to be reopened amid fears for the declining British economy.
Mr Griffith warned that garden centres across the UK are “economically wilting with every day of the peak growing season that they remain closed.
“When the time is right, but I hope that will be soon, that the outdoor economy and garden centres, including those in West Sussex, are in the first wave of modifications as they’re important to the emerging mental health crisis, as well as – if you’ll let me put it this way – economically wilting with every day of the peak growing season that they remain closed,” he said.
However, Gove said that knowing that coronavirus spreads more easily inside than outside “will be an important factor” when debating the end of lockdown measures.
Mr Gove replied: “He also makes a valid point about garden centres. One of the things we know about this disease is that it spreads more easily inside than outside and as the Government reflects on how to lift current restrictions, that will be an important factor.”
