The Easter Holidays are a popular time for your team to book leave. The glut of bank holidays and school holidays means that many find Easter to be the perfect time for a family break. Last year, the Easter break was nothing to write home about as lockdowns prevented anyone from doing much of anything. This year, however, according to the government guidelines, people will be able to visit friends and family in outdoor settings from the 29th of March with the ‘stay at home’ rule also set to be lifted.
This doesn’t mean however that people can go back to life before the lockdowns. Even with these rules being relaxed it’s important that the British public don’t go overboard and only plan Easter events where they can be enjoyed safely and within reason. With that said, let’s see how will people be using their time this Easter? Let’s take a look.
When is Easter this year?
In England, the Easter holidays for 2021 fall on the weekend of April the 3rd and 4th with April 2nd being Good Friday and April 5th, Easter Monday. Both of these bank holidays give the British public a much-deserved 4-day weekend and one that the government has seen fit to use to bring in the relaxation of COVID restrictions. It’s important to note that these restrictions are carefully worded so make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t allowed before planning your Easter holidays.
The March 29th Changes
There are a large number of changes coming on March 29th. According to the government’s COVID-19 Spring Response, these changes are broken down into three categories. The government has defined these as:
Social Contact
“…from 29 March, when most schools start to break up for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.”
Business and Activities
“Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.”
Travel
“The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes. Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.
How will this affect holiday plans?
These changes mean that once again people will be able to enjoy the beauty of the UK. From going on walks to visiting families outside, the weekend will most likely be spent with people enjoying some hopefully good weather and good company at barbecues, picnics, and the like.
However, in spite of the warmer weather presenting more opportunities, especially around Easter, people should minimise the number of journeys they make and try to avoid busy times. This means planning a barbecue or planning a walk will still require a certain level of care and consideration.
Travel abroad is prohibited so it may be a more “free form version’ of the staycation than most of us have been used to up till now. While everyone is dreaming of sandy beaches and waiting for pubs and restaurants to open properly again, these changes are huge and mean the UK public can once again enjoy areas like National Trust sites, cultural sites, hiking trails, sporting events, and special family occasions. As ever, the government has the final word on advice regarding activities during this time so make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t allowed before planning any Easter trips.
Even with the government’s changes British tourism is optimistic Visit Britain estimate that domestic tourism will yield a £61.7bn recovery in tourism spending in 2021. While still not quite hitting the peaks of 2019 this shift shows a massive 79% increase in last year’s spending. This means busier domestic tourist sites, more growth for the economy, and more impetus for tourism sites to set up events, galleries, food stalls and other activities to keep visitors happy.
So what does this mean for your team?
Well, your team are likely to be very excited about any excuse to get out of the house and enjoy some time off with friends and family. Planning Easter with the government’s advice in mind is key to keeping control of the virus and will hopefully mean your team will enjoy a more ‘normal’ summer in the months to come.
After the year we’ve had, giving your team time to relax and recuperate is vitally important to mental health and wellbeing. With many working from home while managing busy family lives, multiple communication issues, and figuring out new routines, your team must have the support they need to cope with changes and stresses.
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