West End footfall down 56% as workers stay away
Footfall in the West End has dropped by 56% year on year, as office workers continue to avoid the shopping area.
Visitor numbers have grown by just 1% on their equivalent in August, according to the latest figures from New West End Company, which represents some 600 businesses across Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Mayfair.
International tourists usually accounted for a third of all visitors before the lockdown, as well as 45% of spending.
Footfall in the West End has dropped by 56% year on year, as office workers continue to avoid the shopping area.
Visitor numbers have grown by just 1% on their equivalent in August, according to the latest figures from New West End Company, which represents some 600 businesses across Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Mayfair.
International tourists usually accounted for a third of all visitors before the lockdown, as well as 45% of spending.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive at New West End Company, said: “West End retailers and hoteliers have shown remarkable resilience in retaining staff in the expectation of the return of commuters and tourists.
“Within the West End, without focused and coherent support, the government is risking up to 50,000 job losses before the end of the year.
“Yet rather than offering hope, the Treasury is making things worse by scrapping tax relief for overseas visitors.”
The government last week outlined plans to withdraw the VAT Retail Export Scheme for international visitors from 1 January 2021.
Tyrell said: “If we are to help the 2.5m across the country who remain on furlough back into the shops, restaurants, hotels where they previously worked we should not be boosting the tourism industry of Paris and Rome by closing our doors to international visitors.”
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Photo: Rick Findler/Shutterstock
