- Tourism Conference – 22nd June
We are just finalising the Programme for this year’s Tourism Conference which we are hosting with the Tourism Society and British Destinations. The conference will again be at the Royal Over Seas League in central London and this year it will be followed by the Tourism Alliance AGM and the Tourism Society Dinner – all at the same venue. Tourism Alliance members attending the conference who would like to stay on for the Tourism Society dinner will be able to do so at a discounted rate.
This year’s conference will consist of two halves, the first focusing on the economic environment and consumer sentiment and the second focusing on key DCMS policy issues including how members can contribute to the work of the Tourism Industry Council’s new working groups, the implementation of the recommendations of the DMO Review and the Accommodation Registration Call for Evidence.
I will send out further details and an Eventbrite link for bookings shortly.
- Visa Changes
The Government has announced that, from 1st June, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will join the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme for travel to the UK which means that they will no longer have to apply for a standard visitor visa to travel to the UK. So instead of having to provide biometric data and submit a visa application they can simply apply online for an authorisation to travel to the UK any time up to 48 hours before departure (standard visa requirements remain if the person wants to work or study in the UK).
The Government has also announced that visitors from El Salvador now need a visa to travel to the UK. Any El Salvadorians already booked to travel to the UK may still be able to do this without a visa if all the following apply:
- they booked their journey to the UK before 4pm UK time 11 May 2022 (9am El Salvador time)
- they are arriving in the UK before 9 June 2022
- they meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bahrain-and-saudi-arabia-get-uk-electronic-visa-waiver-status
- CJRS Overpayment Guidance Updated
HMRC has updated the guidance to businesses that received furlough payments that they were not intitled to by including new sections on appeals. Essentially, this says that if HMRC decides to recover a grant which they deem the business is not entitled to, the business can appeal that decision provided that it does so within 30 days from the date of the HMRC letter making them aware of the HMRC assessment. Appeals