“We’re Good to Go” industry standard and supporting mark for UK tourism. Scottish Government’s Updated Route Map. Ongoing Support for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector. “The Ben” – Save Scotland’s Hospitality.
“We’re Good to Go” industry standard and supporting mark for UK tourism
VisitEngland in partnership with the national tourist organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales has today launched a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for tourism as the sector works towards reopening.
The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place.
The scheme is free to join and open to all businesses across the industry.
Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:
“I want to encourage the public to experience a great British holiday this summer and be confident that they can do so safely.
“This new industry standard will show people that tourism businesses, destinations and attractions are adhering to the guidance. It puts safety first and is an important move in getting this industry back up and running.”
VisitEngland Director Patricia Yates said:
“With millions of jobs and local economies across the country reliant on tourism it is essential that businesses can get up and running as soon as the respective Government advice allows to capture the peak British summer season.
“We want visitors to be able to enjoy their holidays and to support businesses to be confident they have the correct procedures in place. Our priority is to make sure tourism rebounds to once again become one of the most successful sectors of the UK economy and this ‘ring of confidence’ is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.”
To obtain the mark businesses must complete a self-assessment through the online platform https://goodtogo.visitbritain.com/ including a check-list confirming they have put the necessary processes in place, before receiving certification and the We’re Good To Go mark for display in their premises and online.
Businesses across the UK are assessed according to their respective national guidance including the social distancing and cleanliness protocols that must be in place. In England businesses align with the UK Government’s official guidance for the sector including ‘Working Safely during COVID-19: Visitor Economy’. An ‘alert’ system ensures that businesses signed up to the standard are notified of any changes to the official guidance. A call-handling service provides support and assessors would also carry-out random spot-checks to ensure adherence.
The scheme has been developed in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales to ensure a standard-led approach across the UK with input from more than 40 industry bodies including UKHospitality, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the British Beer and Pub Association and the National Caravan Council as well as destination management organisations across the country. The self-assessment includes specific guidelines for sectors including accommodation, visitor attractions, restaurants and pubs, business conference and events venues and tour and coach operators with signposting to further industry and trade association guidance as required.
The We’re Good To Go scheme is being operated by VisitEngland who has been running assessment schemes for many years.
Alongside the industry standard VisitEngland is also launching a Know Before You Go public information campaign to support tourism in England as businesses start to re-open, reassuring visitors as restrictions are lifted by checking about what it is safe to do and when and sign-posting to information about destinations and available services before travelling.
Scottish Government’s Updated Route Map
| Following the First Minister’s announcement yesterday the Scottish Government has now updated its Route Map with the key dates now being:- 6 July – Outdoor hospitality areas such as beer gardens will be able to open. 9 July – Scotland will progress to phase three of lockdown if COVID-19 cases continue to reduce. 10 July – Households will be able to meet people from more households outdoors with physical distancing. 13 July – Organised outdoor sports for children will resume and nonessential shops within indoor shopping centres will reopen. 15 July – Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, and cinemas will be able to open, along with the tourism sector and all holiday accommodation. With the progress in s in suppressing the virus means I’ve been able to the update the route map out of lockdown. You’ll find full details of the updated route map here. |
Ongoing Support for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector
A question posed by Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which he asks if the Chancellor will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme beyond October 2020 for the tourism and hospitality sector and its food and drink supply chain, has received the following response from the Treasury.
“The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is a temporary scheme in place for eight months starting from 1 March and ending at the end of October. It is the case that some firms will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately.
It would be challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and it may not be the case that this is the most effective or sensible way to provide longer term support for those sectors most affected by coronavirus. The Government will continue to engage with businesses and representative groups with the aim of ensuring that support provided is right for these sectors and for the economy as a whole.”
“The Ben” – Save Scotland’s Hospitality
