APPG Inquiry into Coasts and Waters enters second phase

Following a series of oral evidence sessions, attended by APPG members including chair Steve Double MP, Hastings MP Sally-Ann Hart, and Labour’s Shadow Minister for Tourism and Heritage Alex Sobel, the group has now opened its consultation.

The APPG is encouraging hospitality and tourism businesses, along with other stakeholders that operate in coastal or lakeside areas, to take part.

The inquiry 'aims to take a holistic look at tourism and hospitality in the UK’s coastal and lakeside regions'. 

It states that coastal and lakeside tourism and hospitality can be a major source of growth and jobs, especially for the young, and that it is important a long-term vision is provided to enable tourism and hospitality businesses to grow, but to do so in a sustainable manner that protects the interests of local communities.

“The first phase of the inquiry has already provided some hugely valuable insight," says Double.

"We are now proceeding with the second and we hope to learn much about how best we can identify the opportunities and risks that coastal and lakeside communities face and discover how best they can be supported.”

The APPG notes that many local businesses in these sectors are seasonal, with a high dependence on domestic and inbound tourism.

With the hospitality and tourism sectors particularly badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is extra urgency to ensure that the right support is identified and available.

“Coastal and lakeside tourism and hospitality businesses are an incredibly important part of our sector," says Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality.

"They are vital employers in communities that are often small and rural.

"Often, they depend on seasonal tourism and they will have been hammered by the COVID-19 crisis and the accompanying downturn in tourism.

"It is key that we understand how they can be supported to ensure that they can continue to contribute to vibrant, thriving communities, and as many jobs as possible kept secure.”

If you wish to respond to our Coasts and Waters consultation, you must do so by Wednesday 19 August at 5pm. For more details, click here​​.