Holidaymakers unable to visit tourist resorts for some time, minister warns

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said that “at the moment and for some time to come” members of the public should not travel to visit popular British resorts.

It comes as research shows Britons are the least likely to back measures to restart the economy, believing businesses should remain closed until the virus is fully contained.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori which polled more than 28,000 people in 14 countries, described Britons as “the most cautious” when it comes to reopening, with 71 per cent admitting they would be nervous about leaving the house.

Mr Gove, speaking to MPs, has confirmed that the virus spreads more easily inside than out, adding that this will be “an important factor” when debating the release of restrictive measures.

His comments came as he answered questions on the potential for garden centres to be among the first businesses to reopen. South Downs MP Andrew Griffith had warned that such centres across the UK are “economically wilting” with every day they remain closed”.

Newquay MP Steve Double, calling for assurances over “clear and enforceable” travel restrictions if lockdown measures were to be lifted, said many people worried about an “influx” of holidaymakers and second-home owners travelling to regions such as Cornwall.

In response, Mr Gove said: “Cornwall is beautiful, visiting it is a pleasure, but at the moment and for some time to come, don’t.”

Tourism is worth £9bn a year to Yorkshire’s economy, according to research commissioned by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire last year, supporting 224,000 workers – 8.5 per cent of all jobs in Yorkshire.

In Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s own constituency of Richmond, further research by the RSA suggests as many as one in three jobs are at risk.

But leader of Richmondshire Council, Coun Angie Dale, acknowledging there was a “real concern” for many businesses, did offer a glimmer of hope.

“Any area that has a lot of tourism is at risk but I feel confident that when this is over, more people than ever will want to holiday in the UK,” she said.

And Andy Wilson, chief executive of the National Park Authority in the North York Moors, told The Yorkshire Post this week there will be a “very strong” bounce back. Praising the “vast majority of people” who had not only accepted but embraced official guidance on staying away, he said: “The National Parks will return bigger and stronger.”

The Ipsos Mori poll found 70 per cent of Britons were against opening up the economy if the virus is not fully under control.

Only Canadians felt the same, the survey found, and were the strongest views of 14 countries, compared to 61 per cent in Australia and 59 per cent in the United States.

Mr Skinner said these factors “suggest that the turnaround in the economy might not be quite so fast as hoped for”.

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