Light at end of tunnel but businesses 'must embrace digital world'

Coun Colin Davie said the coast has a strong foundation to welcome the masses who will flock to resorts in Lincolnshire once restrictions are eased.

However, he warned the impact of the new strain of Covid-19 would mean it was unlikely the 2021 season would start as it usually does at Easter - and businesses could have to wait until May to re-open fully.

As a result it would not be possible to save every business but that both local and national government needed to try and support as many as possible to give them the “best chance to survive”.

"Lincolnshire County Council recognises that the tourism sector was hoping to be open for business over Christmas and the New Year to see them through but following the new government guidelines for many this is now not so.

"We have written to the Secretary of State expressing our concern and asking for support to help businesses survive - and not only along the coast.

"The reality is villages without their churches and pubs will diminish without this support because they are at the heart of these communities."

Coun Davie said it was expected the first four months of the year would be difficult, but businesses could do their bit during this time to help them come out stronger.

“We need to prepare the ground we need to make sure that we basically get the virus in Lincolnshire under control so that we can reopen everything whilst the vaccination programme is underway to protect the vulnerable on the elderly," he said.

“Then when we get to May we can reopen firing on all cylinders.”

Hundreds of millions of pounds have already been paid into business support since March including furlough payments, business grants and leader funding.

“It is really important that businesses see the light at the end of the tunnel that I can see,” said CounDavie.

“I can see a massive influx of tourism numbers next year.

“I really believe that once people believe it’s that it’s safe to return to visiting coast and their relatives and visiting our beautiful cities and countryside, that they’re going to turn up in huge numbers, bigger, bigger numbers than I have ever seen before.

“Some of the raw data that I have seen indicates that that is going to happen.”

It has already been acknowledged that high streets were changing prior to COVID and that the virus had increased the speed of that.

Coun Davie predicted that chains who had multiple outlets would suffer the most from the impact, with local businesses coming out on top in the end.

Meanwhile, technology would continue to play a huge part going forward - and businesses must be prepared to become part of the new digital world.

"A new Visit Lincolnshire website promoting the coast and other attractions in the county which is being launched in March will play a major part in this, but businesses but be prepared too.

"There are resorted already where everything can be booked online from accommodation, dining, and rides at amusement parks.

"In Lincolnshire, although there are some excellent moves forward in this, we are not there yet.

"Businesses can use the time before they re-open to embrace the digital world and as a council we will support them in this - and there are already a number of free courses available to help them.

"They need to get competitive in a modern world. People will pay for quality - two meals for a tenner offers will not cut it anymore.

"We need to ensure that when the visitors return - and they will - it is not a one-off trip and they keep coming back."