Skye’s at the limit: tourists struggle for a room on isle

Police say visitors expect them to act as travel agents when they arrive to find there is nowhere to stay

THE Isle of Skye is so overrun with tourists that police are warning people not to come if they haven’t booked somewhere to stay.

Desperate visitors are using the local constabulary to help them find accommodation, but officers say they cannot act as travel agents for them.

Sgt Bruce Crawford said: “The sum- mer months are an incredibly busy period on Skye and this is obviously good for business but it can create problems, especially with accommodation often at a premium.

“I would never advise people against visiting our beautiful island but I would ask people to use common sense before travelling without booking accommodation in advance.

“People regularly arrive at the station with nowhere to stay asking for advice and it is simply not possible for police to phone round hotels and B & Bs to try to find accommodation.

“Like everyone else, we want visitors to have the best experience possible but I would encourage people, who travel from around the world to see Skye, to plan ahead unless they want to spend a night in their car.”

The island, well-known for its natural beauty and medieval castles, has exploded in popularity after it was used as the location for music videos by Kanye West and Harry Styles, and blockbuster films including The BFG and Prometheus.

Over the summer its population of 10,000 increases six-fold because of the number of tourists, putting services such as waste management under pressure. Locals have complained of littering, claiming visitors even leave “human waste” for residents to clean up. Some holidaymakers have been seen sleeping in their cars.

Residents have called for greater funding from the Scottish government to help them cope, and a local businessman has even suggested that tourists should be charged a £1 fee to cross the Skye Bridge.

Roger Booth, who owns a food van at natural beauty spot the Quiraing told the BBC: “It would be put into the island economy for better lavatories, better waste facilities, better parking facilities and better roads.”

However, a local business group criticised the idea, saying that many local businesses depended upon the tourists. David Richardson, Federation of Small Businesses development manager for the Highlands and Islands, said: “They are our customers and you don’t tax your customers.”

♦ Last night it was reported that Majorca and Ibiza are capping the number of tourist beds available due to complaints from residents that mass tourism is driving up rental prices.