SPRING FEELING
Holiday homes in England open from April 12 – but hotels and group trips must wait until May 17
HOLIDAYS can restart in England from April 12 - but only for one household - while hotels can reopen from May 17.
Boris Johnson has announced the restart dates for holidays in the country as part of his road map out of lockdown.
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Self-catered holidays will welcome guests back again from April 12, which includes sites such as caravan parks, but this can only be for one household.
However, from May 17, hotels will welcome guests back again along with holiday homes, but with just two households (with no limit) or the rule of six from different households.
On June 21, holidays will resume with no restrictions in England.
The news on foreign holidays was less promising today however, with the Prime Minister announcing that the government would not make any decision on trips abroad until April - and that they will definitely be no earlier than May 17.
All of these measures are subject to the coronavirus situation in the UK, and could change if cases climb again.
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The Prime Minister told MPs today: "Today the end really is in sight. A wretched year will soon give way to spring and summer."
Earlier demand from Brits saw Easter holidays soar in price by as much as £1,500.
UK Hospitality's Kat Nicholls said on Twitter: "We will need to see the full statement today but if pubs and restaurants are not opening until May, hotels June and NTE even later, then the Chancellor needs urgently to set out additional support - extension of existing measures won't be enough to save businesses for that long."
She also warned that many faced permanent closure if they weren't able to have the same summer boom as last year.
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Ms Nicholls told Sun Online Travel: "Last summer we did well - businesses were full - but because of social distancing there were capacity and occupancy constraints.
"Over August, pubs, bars and restaurants were still just trading below break even for the first time since the pandemic started while for holidays parks and hotels, the maximum operation was at 50 per cent so the revenue was 70 per cent of normal levels.
"It will be very tight, and have no scope for adverse affects. If we have a washout summer and lots of rain, or further economic changes, we will see business failures."
She added: “We need to be in the first phase of re-opening. Summer will be too late for many businesses."
When will holidays resume?
- April 12 - self catered holiday homes can be let to single households
- April 12 - decision on foreign holidays to be announced
- May 17 - hotels reopen and holiday homes can be let to groups of up to six people from different households or groups from two households with no cap on size
- June 21 - holiday homes can be let to groups of all sizes
From March 8, when all schools will reopen people will be able to sit down for a drink outside with their household, or with one friend or relative.
The rules will be relaxed further on March 29, allowing either six people or two households to meet outside.
It will only be towards the end of April - in the third stage of the plan - that non-essential retail will open.
As it stands, only essential retail such as supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to serve customers.
Pubs and restaurants are not expected to open before May, while large outdoor events such as football matches and music festivals are expected towards the end of that month.
However, this is all on the condition that coronavirus cases continue to fall.
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