The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Tourism industry in planning limbo
Anumber of tourism business operators across the Highlands have voiced concerns over the impact Scotland’s “deliberately cautious” plans to ease lockdown restrictions will have on the industry.
One Skye hotelier warned a second shortened summer season could lead to more redundancies in the sector in the autumn and some operators deciding not to reopen in the spring.
The Scottish Government’s timetable, outlined this week, set April 26 for returning to Level 3 restrictions, which would still limit travel.
It followed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of a four-step plan that could see all legal limits on social contact lifted by June 21 in England.
According to business owners in three different parts of the north, the tourism sector has been “left in limbo” by the Scottish plan.
Anne Gracie Gunn, owner of the Sonas Collection, which includes the Skeabost House, Toravaig House and Duisdale House hotels on Skye, said: “Along with everyone in my industry I need clarity and indicative dates now so that I can start planning staff recruitment, accepting bookings, and getting everything in order.
“This week’s announcement from the first minister was far too vague and leaves us and our businesses in limbo.
“Knowing that we should be going into Level 3 at the end of April tells us nothing – it’s what happens after that matters.”
She continued: “It is clear that the Highlands is going to have its second shortened season in succession, again without overseas visitors.
“Tragically, without further government support, many hotels and other businesses will have no alternative but to start considering redundancies in the autumn, and many will fear that they might not be able to reopen in the spring.”
David Cooper, owner of the Crafts and Things shop, in Glencoe, said that while he believed the Scottish Government was right to be cautious, planning a business reopening based on current information was “nigh impossible”.
He added: “More information on dates would really help, but the real clincher for my business is how the new levels system will work.
“Towards the end of last year I was extremely grateful for all the support that I received from local customers, who all rallied round, but it’s not enough to keep a business like mine alive.”
Roy Gibson, of Active Outdoor Pursuits, in Newtonmore, said: “While we understand that all governments are data-led, the most business-friendly policy would be to have a shared approach to unlocking across the UK so that everyone is clear about where they stand.”
Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Highlands and islands development manager, David Richardson, said: “Another six weeks of mainland stay-at-home lockdown certainly won’t ease the mounting pressures facing businesses, but it’s worse than that, for the news from the first minister this week was definitely not what the countless Highlands and islands businesses involved in our important visitor economy wished to hear.
“While the move back into the levels system will be well received by many Scottish businesses, it will not mean that the all-important customers of our tourism and hospitality business – from the Central Belt and England – will be able to return immediately, and certainly not those from overseas.
“FSB Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government for three things.
“First, we want more detail about the types of economic activity that can be resumed under the different levels so that businesses can begin to plan.
“Second, as the vaccine is rolled out, we want the Scottish Government to continually review whether its recovery road map timetable can be accelerated, travel restrictions lifted, and restrictions on local economies eased.
“And third, we want grants to be made available to prevent businesses that have made it thus far through the pandemic from going under.”