Everyone knows that the retail sector faced huge challenges before the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has added to those challenges with retail sales falling significantly and footfall depressed and unlikely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels for some time to come. Rather than write off retail as some would, the reality is that the future of our city centres and high streets requires a strong retail sector as part of a wider leisure, hospitality, cultural, office and residential mix.
Belfast Chamber’s message today to our MLAs at Stormont is clear. We know that our elected representatives value the retail sector. We have seen huge interventions to support businesses during this crisis that have been of huge assistance to many. What retail now needs is to focus on the future and Belfast Chamber urges Stormont to consider how it can help the sector not just in the long term, but also to build a better future for retail. That will require not just financial support but also a redoubling of efforts to improve accessibility and also revitalise the physical infrastructure of our city centres and high streets. Clearly, renewing retail post-COVID-19 will require a cross-Departmental effort and Belfast Chamber would urge Ministers to consider how they can best coordinate that essential work”.
Mr Hamilton also took the opportunity to urge the Executive to set a date for the remainder of retail to reopen. Simon Hamilton said, “Whilst all of non-essential retail can reopen from this Friday, an exemption still exists for indoor shopping centres. We would ask that the Executive sets a date for indoor shopping centres to open as soon as possible. Many are already open because they are home to essential retailers with more than 60% of stores in one centre. They are able to maintain a safe environment for staff and customers and should be permitted to open as well”.
In conclusion, Mr Hamilton also spelt out the need to give the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector a reopening date. Mr Hamilton concluded, “Alongside retail, the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector has been bearing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. The setting of a date for hotels to reopen on 20th July is welcome but with the Republic of Ireland bringing forward their restart date, it is important that our sector locally doesn’t fall behind. The future success of our city centres and high streets will very much be based on experiences and hospitality, leisure and tourism is key to that. There is a symbiotic relationship between retail and hospitality, leisure and tourism and as we seek to bounce back from COVID-19, it is crucial that each of these sectors can reopen safely and start contributing to our economic recovery”. Ends
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