An open letter to MPs from Welcome to Yorkshire.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented health and economic crisis.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, we have been inundated with calls for help from those running visitor attractions and destinations.

As you know from your constituents who run these businesses, many have not yet recovered from the recent floods that decimated many parts of our region. We fear this pandemic will cause many of our tourism businesses to close their doors for good.

The measures announced by the Chancellor this week, are far reaching and will be welcomed by many. But there is a sense from our members that urgent action is required now. The Prime Minister’s press conference on the 16th March effectively put the ‘closed’ sign on so many organisations that rely exclusively on tourists and visitors for their income.

We fully appreciate the pressure you are under, dealing with your caseloads and calls for help during this crisis. Without wishing to add to that burden, we are asking that you make representation to Government, specifically calling for a package of targeted support measures for businesses in the tourism, hospitality and allied industries.

Tourism is now worth £9 billion to this region’s economy. We can’t afford to lose that.

Peter Box CBE, chair.
James Mason, chief executive