Tourism hotspots hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic face becoming “hollowed-out high streets”, Labour warns today. Travel restrictions imposed during lockdowns have plunged hotels, bars, restaurants and gift shops in some of the country's most picturesque areas into crisis.
Across England, 11.7% of all businesses are in the hospitality, tourism, leisure and non-essential retail sector – including hotels and B&Bs, restaurants and pubs, clothes and book shops and travel agencies.
But the proportion is much higher in some of the towns and counties most popular with staycation families and foreign visitors.
Labour analysis of Office for National Statistics data found such businesses accounted for 44.4% of firms on the Isles of Scilly,