Coronavirus Information for Visit Thames Partners

Support for Visit Thames partners

At these difficult times we would like to offer support to our Visit Thames partners. We appreciate that many of you will not be operating or will have limited business and therefore we will not be charging our partners between April to June. Renewals due over this period will not be issued until July. If you have already paid for this period this will be reflected in your renewal. 

The website will only be updated for essential information during April to June. Please let us know when you are re-opening as we are updating 'What's open along the River Thames'.

Guidance for re-opening tourism businesses

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding the re-opening plans for a number of tourism businesses in England from 4 July, the visitor economy guidance has been published. 

 The guidance is aimed at business owners, operators and workers in the following areas:

• Hotels and other guest accommodation (including self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, hostels, camping, holiday homes, caravan parks, boats and other types of accommodation including short-term letting). This guidance should be read in conjunction with the working safely in hotels and other accommodation guidance.
• Indoor and outdoor attractions (e.g. arcades, walking tours, theme parks, family entertainment centres, static funfairs, zoos and aquariums). The events and entertainment guidance may also be useful for attractions that move around (e.g. roving funfairs) to be published shortly.
• Business events and consumer shows (e.g. events taking place in meetings, conference, convention and exhibition centres). Business conferences, events, exhibitions and trade fairs are not currently allowed to take place in England.

The guidance should also be read in conjunction with the working safely guidance, the safer travel guidance and other available sector guidance.

New social distancing guidance, a list of businesses that can open from 4 July and updated guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars has also been made available.

UK Government confirm all forms of boating in England to restart from the 4^th July.

British Marine is delighted to confirm that from the 4th July, all forms of boating, including skippered charter and passenger boat operations can recommence, subject to all relevant COVID-19 guidance being followed.

In a statement issued to British Marine today (1.7.20), DEFRA said: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government’s priority has been, and remains, to save lives. Following the latest announcement by the Prime Minister on 23 June, which marked a significant further easing of the lockdown restrictions to come into effect on 4 July, the Government has decided to withdraw the guidance on ‘Using a boat inland and on the coast’ from 4 July.

Latest government guidance on COVID-19 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. Individuals and boating operators are responsible for conducting a risk assessment drawing on the relevant sources of government guidance on COVID-19. In particular operators and individuals should consider:

• Working Safely during coronavirus
• Staying alert and safe (social distancing) after 4 July
• Meeting People Outside Your House
• Staying Safe Outside Your Home
• Safer transport guidance for operators
• Safer travel guidance for passengers
• Phased return of outdoor sport and recreation

Our partner British Marine has been working hard on behalf of the boating industry on the Thames and has created a Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions section.

We’re Good To Go

VisitEngland has developed a new industry standard and supporting consumer mark for tourism to provide a 'ring of confidence' for businesses, attractions and destinations, as well as provide reassurance to local residents and visitors that clear processes are in place and that as an industry we are good to go. The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark means businesses across the sector can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and check they have the required processes in place. 

The scheme is free to join and open to all businesses across the sector.  To obtain the mark businesses must complete a self-assessment through our online platform including a check-list confirming they have put the necessary processes in place, before receiving certification and the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark for display in their premises and online. 

Let us know if you have received the certification as the website has been updated to show the mark on your entry.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (11/6/20) for Day Boat Hire and Charters on the River Thames

• VisitBritain has been feeding in industry concerns to Government via the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group and sharing any practical advice as soon as it becomes available.
• British Marine and Windsor have made us aware that some businesses won’t benefit from the business rate relief announced by the government because they pay environment agency licence fees instead.  To date there’s been no word to say the licence fees will be relaxed for a period of time. There is a joint letter going to Government from British Marine, CRT, and Broads Authority, asking for extra help for boating businesses that rely on an April- October income.
• The Local Government Association and the Tourism Alliance have also identified some tourism businesses that are not explicitly mentioned in the business rates relief guidance, but it is felt that they fall into the intended category. Councils are being asked to give consideration to the premises listed below for inclusion in their local schemes, this includes Marinas/boat hire/passenger boat facilities.
• The Thames Path remains open at this point in time, for locals taking their daily exercise, but people should be aware of social distancing and shouldn't be driving to it. When you're #solowalking on narrow routes like towpaths and the #ThamesPath step away, and turn away, from other people walking towards you, especially if they don't take action to distance themselves from you. Please BE SENSIBLE! The Thames Path National Trail is not able to operate the normal level of service, for the upkeep of the Trail, as all volunteers have been stopped. 

 Here are some useful links for Businesses:

• Government coronavirus business support
• VisitBritain Advice for tourism and event businesses affected by COVID-19
• Gov.uk COVID-19 support for businesses
• Guidance for food businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Revised Guidance: Further businesses and premises to close 
• Government launches Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp
• Latest Guidance: Public Health England
• Guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19
• Government guidelines for employers and business
• HMRC Tax Helpline for businesses
• Companies House advice on COVID-19
• Six-month MOT exemption
• The Charity Commission's guidance on Covid-19
• The British Retail Council (BRC) Coronavirus update: Latest retailer activity
• Assets for the ‘Stay at Home, Save Lives’ Campaign