BRITS will be urged to go on a staycation holiday in the UK from July to boost the tourism industry at home.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden today suggested Airbnb holiday lets would be the first parts of the British tourism industry to reopen as they have a “lower risk” of spreading coronavirus.
He said he is still optimistic of opening up UK holiday spots in July, and will push a “major campaign to encourage people to take British staycations.”
Mr Dowden told MPs that he will be “at the forefront of championing the campaign for British tourism” once the sector is ready to reopen, and said the Government’s target remains for this to happen in England “by 4 July”.
He insisted he “much prefers” British holidays to holidays overseas too.
He added: “And of course once the sector is ready to go I’ll be at the forefront of championing the campaign for British tourism.”
Mr Dowden said: “As the Prime Minister has said, we have set this very ambitious target to try and get the sector back by 4 July, so long as it is safe to do so, and I am working to make that a reality.”
Ministers want to get UK tourism “up and running” as “rapidly as possible”, he stressed.
“Self let accommodation has a lower risk, so I would hope that is at the front of the queue,” he said in relation to questions in the Commons.
The news will delight Brits who have spent nearly three months indoors and have been unable to stay away overnight.
People in England can travel as far as they like for a day trip, but can’t stay there at the moment.
It means trips to see friends and family are off the cards still for now.
At the moment Brits are unable to go out of the country, either.
Foreign and Commonwealth advice still says no one should be travelling unless absolutely necessary.
From Monday people coming into the UK will face a 14-day quarantine when they arrive in the country.
That will mean tat even if Brits are allowed to jet off outside the country in the next few months, they may have to take an extra two weeks off afterwards to isolate.
