Two-metre rule unsustainable for firms

Tourism businesses will be economically unsustainable if the two-metre social distancing rule remains in place in Scotland, according to a new survey.

Focusing on the hospitality sector, the Scottish Tourism Alliance has found the vast majority of firms will struggle if the two-metre social distancing measure is in place when they reopen.

In the survey of 1,052 businesses including hotels, restaurants and cafés from June-21, some 85% said they will have to stop trading if the rule remains in place and no further financial help is offered.

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association ran a similar survey during the same time period, which found just 13% of pubs believe they can reopen with twometre social distancing measures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

85% of businesses... will stop trading if the twometre rule... remains in place for the next two months... MARC CROTHALL

announced yesterday that the regulation will be relaxed to one metre-plus from July 4 in England, with people advised to take other precautions such as wearing face coverings.

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “The survey confirms that around 85% of businesses within the hotel and restaurant sectors in Scotland will stop trading if the two-metre physical distancing rule remains in place for the next two months, should no further financial support be forthcoming.

“The figures reflect the many conversations we have been having with businesses across all sectors in the tourism industry for months and underline just how crucial the current review of the two-metre physical distancing rule is within the context of the health and economic crises.”

Almost a third of hotels surveyed said they will not reopen on July 15 directly because of the social distancing regulations, while 23% of restaurants said they cannot afford to continue if restrictions are not reduced to one metre.

Restaurants said if they are required to trade at two metres without any additional support beyond the next two months, there will be almost 9,000 jobs at risk due to closures.

Mr Crothall added: “Our tourism industry has welcomed the publication of the sector guidance for reopening and fully supports all recommended measures to ensure the safety of employees, visitors and our communities.

“However, many businesses do not plan to open again with the twometre rule in place as it’s simply not economically viable for them to do so.”