UK domestic travel boom not enough to rescue the sector, says trade body STAA

Trade body calls on government to support firms that will struggle to survive the winter

There remains a serious threat of collapses in the short term let sector despite the lifting of lockdown measures in the UK in July.

UK trade body the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), that represents property owners, says government support is needed to if many firms are to survive the winter.

The STAA says a domestic travel a boom during the peak summer months that prompted reports that the UK was “sold out” is not enough to ensure the sector’s survival.

Merilee Karr, STAA chair said: “A combination of good weather and the British people’s desire to have a holiday despite the COVID-19 restrictions has meant that since reopening the short term accommodation sector has enjoyed a really uplifting reopening with the biggest staycation year on record.

“Despite it being a great time to visit cities without all the international tourists, there is still scope for more growth as capacity in cities is so much greater.

“As we approach the end of the school holidays, we can expect demand to soften and greater pressure exerted on businesses who weren’t able to generate revenues from mid-March through to early July – more than three months of lost income.

“We need a commitment from the government that it will continue to provide sector specific support so that our industry can continue to contribute to the UK economy directly and indirectly through the local businesses that benefit from our guests, while providing consumers with a great deal of choice.

“Without foreign visitors or business travellers and with regional lockdowns in some places once schools go back there will be an inevitable reduction in demand.

“This combined with the impacts of the furlough scheme ending in the Autumn could further jeopardise the future of many businesses in the sector.”