Holiday parks welcome key workers in fight against virus
29 March 2020
BRITAIN’S caravan and camping parks are starting to swap holiday guests for key NHS workers and others in urgent need of accommodation during the coronavirus crisis.
The British Holiday & Home Parks Association reports “a massive industry-wide response” following the closure of all its 2,900 member park businesses this week.
The association’s chairman, Andrew Baragwanath, says that medical staff coming out of retirement and needing to be close to NHS hospitals are among those being welcomed.
“There are a lot of instances where parks are able to play a role, including providing a safer place to stay for homeless people previously housed by councils in B&B accommodation.“We are hearing many examples of parks offering up holiday caravans and holiday lodges, and even glamping units, to local councils and health boards,” he said.
“We’ve also heard of parks working with councils to accommodate people who must stay apart from their families as their partner or relative has contracted the virus.
“Parks would normally now be starting to really busy-up as the holiday season gets underway, but instead there are thousands of holiday caravans across the country lying empty.
“Most parks are smaller family-run businesses where the owners have long been a part of the local community, and now see an opportunity to reach out even further to support it.
“We are very proud of what we are witnessing and the compassion being shown,” said Andrew whose long-established family firm owns Ayr Holiday Park near St Ives in Cornwall.
Andrew added that tourism minister Nigel Huddleston MP had this week thanked the association on behalf of the Government for its role in helping to combat the virus threat.
Members of BH&HPA form the major part of the caravan and camping parks industry which generates £9.3 billion of visitor spending each year, and supports over 170,000 full-time jobs.