Tourism: Coronavirus

(asked on 30th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact on businesses in the tourism sector of the temporary measures in respect of the wearing of face coverings and self-isolation approved by the House on 30 November 2021.


Answered by
Nigel Huddleston Portrait
Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 3rd December 2021

The Government has put in place a measured and proportionate set of restrictions.

Hospitality businesses are exempt from enforcing customers to wear masks and this assessment has been made from a practical point of view as the nature of hospitality visits is to eat and drink.

The Government has worked to strike a balance with introducing new measures.

Face coverings will be required in shops including ones located in larger premises and retail travel agents. Masks will also be required in transport hubs.

In terms of international travel, the government has sought advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA) and travellers into the UK must now take a PCR test on Day 2 instead of a lateral flow test. There is also mandatory isolation in place to ensure we have the strongest safeguards against importing the new variant. This is to allow time for operational implementation.

Businesses still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business by carrying out a health and safety risk assessment, including the risk of COVID-19.

We are continuing to listen to stakeholders during this time.

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