Britain’s tourist towns face a "stark" jobs crisis unless the Government provides more support to visitor hotspots, Labour has warned.
Even as Boris Johnson urges people to take "staycations" in the UK, new analysis shows regions which rely on tourism are being disproportionately hit by the rise in unemployment following the coronavirus pandemic.
In areas where over a fifth of workers are in tourism-related jobs, the number of working-age adults claiming unemployment-related benefits has risen by 174% since February - compared to 110% for the UK as a whole.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for an extension of the Government's furlough scheme for the worst-hit sectors, including domestic tourism.
Ahead of a visit to Falmouth in Cornwall, Sir Keir warned the UK’s world-class destinations are “falling through the cracks” as the Government prepares to wind down the scheme.
Some 24% of workers in Falmouth are in tourism related jobs - and the claimant count has risen by 140% since February.
He said: "We are lucky to have many world-class tourist destinations across the UK.
“But the jobs crisis facing tourist towns is stark. There are fantastic domestic options for British holidaymakers, but the crucial summer season has been cut short.
“With many businesses still unable to reopen fully, the Government’s one-size-fits-all approach to jobs risks these towns falling through the cracks.
“We need a targeted extension of the furlough scheme for the hardest-hit sectors and proper support in place to help those who are unemployed back into work.“
In May, the Mirror revealed the ten towns working in lockdown-hit industries had an average monthly pay packet nearly £300 lighter than the UK average before the crisis.
And lockdown rules, as well as the Government's haphazard border quarantine regime, has robbed the struggling tourism industry of much of the popular Summer months it needed to stay afloat.
As well as a flexible job retention scheme, Sir Kier has called for a £1.7 billion 'Hospitality and High Streets Fightback fund'.
The fund would help pubs, bars, hotels and other businesses which have been unable to trade fully because of lockdown rules.
Mr Starmer added: “People are worried about their job prospects.
“The Labour Party is focused on fighting for every job and every part of the country.”
