Spare a Thought this Christmas

Spare a thought this Christmas, for all those who work in the tourism industry in the UK in general, but the ones in the county of North Yorkshire particularly.

North Yorkshire - God's Own County - our "patch". Possibly the only county in the whole of England where tourism is the major driver in the economy.

The tourism & hospitality industry has taken the biggest "hit" throughout the entire pandemic in the UK. There was an all-too-brief respite when the first lockdown was lifted and there was a surge in last-minute staycation bookings (as we said would happen on BBC Look North back in April), but things remain grim.

Whilst the NHS has been much praised this year, much praise was due to the delivery drivers, shop staff, postal staff and couriers. They kept things going and stayed out of the limelight. We owe them a huge debt of thanks.

We give a huge shout out to all the local business-owners, who resolutely pressed on during the most difficult of times. We spoke earlier in the year of the devastating chain reaction of financial loss that occurs when people are forced to cancel holidays.

For every B&B, Guest House or Hotel that has a cancellation, others won't get paid. Less goes into the economy in tax. Those establishments spend less with their suppliers, such as butchers and grocers, who in turn buy less from the farmers and growers and so on.

Government support was, in most areas, good, but could always have been better. Too many people and businesses fell through the cracks and certain issues were criminally ignored, such as some accommodation providers who were paying Council Tax as opposed to Business Rates. They missed out on the government grants, even though they were registered as businesses and paid the necessary insurance and tax required.

Tens of thousands of self-employed people also fell through these (clearly large) cracks, missing out on grants because, for example, they hadn't been operating long enough. Shameful.

So as we head to the end of what has been a horrible year in many ways, we look towards 2021 with renewed hope. But please, spare a thought for those in the tourism & hospitality industry, especially in North Yorkshire.

Plan your holidays, look to stay in the UK and make your choice North Yorkshire. You will not be disappointed and you won't tire of things to see or do.

North Yorkshire makes for the ideal Staycation!

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