I WAS shocked when a psychologist told me some people working in Yorkshire’s tourism industry were suffering from something akin to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Repeated lockdowns with periods of inactivity and fear of losing their livelihood, followed by the euphoria of re-opening and a whirlwind of frenzied activity certainly took their toll. Pent-up demand for holidays and unseasonably good weather meant the season continued far longer than usual.
Small business owners worked for months without any time off, trying to recoup lost revenue. By December exhaustion had set in, followed by yet more uncertainty. Pubs and restaurants have been particularly badly affected, struggling to juggle staff shortages, peaks and troughs in demand, no-shows and cancellations.
There is some positive news. Quietly, without fuss or fanfare,…