TOURISM bosses have warned some businesses are in a battle to survive after the county was plunged into Tier 3 restrictions.
Helen Peters, Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s England has written to Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi calling on government to bring forward the planned review of tiers to December 9 instead of December 16.
Ms Peters, who is also lead of the Culture and Tourism Business Group of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership says south Warwickshire should be assessed separately to the rest of the county and more financial support should be provided for businesses over Christmas and into the start of next year.
She said: “Tourism, hospitality and all our heritage venues and attractions have been devastated by the effects of the pandemic. Many were just about seeing a pin prick of light at the end of a very long tunnel and looking towards welcoming audiences back.
“This has been taken away yet again leaving many with no other decision than to remain closed into the New Year. They need to protect what little viability they have left and cannot risk potentially opening to operate at a loss just adding to their problems.
“With this time of the year being so important for building the cash to finance them through the winter off season, the major concern is that many will simply not reopen.
“Even if we were re-graded to Tier 2 after 16 December, this still prevents the ‘Christmas bubbles’ enjoying Christmas lunch out or mixing together anywhere inside other than their own home.
“Our hotels and restaurants have again had thousands of pounds worth of business wiped off their books. It will also be far too late to change plans yet again even to welcome same households or existing bubbles. The damage is done and now it is all about survival.
“The sector may be seen as part of the problem at the moment but moving forward we are definitely a big part of the solution.”
