TOURISTS WARNED: STAY AT HOME
Outbreak fears spark pleas not to take rural Easter breaks ...blunt message amid growing backlash over influx of visitors
FAMILIES have been urged to cancel Easter staycations and keep away from isolated Scottish beauty spots in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Ministers appealed yesterday for would-be tourists to stay in their own homes rather than go to holiday cottages or caravans.
They fear rural health infrastructure may not be able to cope with an influx of people visiting from other parts of the country.
With schools closed and most flights cancelled, many families are likely to be considering alternative holidays in Britain.
Over the weekend, concerns were raised about an influx of visitors to the Highlands, including people in camper vans, bus tours and people visiting their second homes.
Judy Murray joined the backlash. The tennis coach, mother of Sir Andy Murray, posted a social media message with a picture of a 4x4 and trailer – which appeared to originate from Bala, North Wales –
‘Irresponsible behaviour’
painted with the words ‘Go home idiots – Covid 19.’
Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘They shouldn’t do that. They are putting themselves at risk, they are putting the communities at risk and, in terms of the capabilities and resilience, if they get ill there they will compromise the health or others living in the Highlands and islands.
‘Our advice is for everybody: stay where you are, do not travel to the Highlands and islands.
‘People should be staying home if they want to stay safe.’
She added that emergency legislation being brought in by Westminster would give both the UK and Scottish Governments ‘specific powers’ to help deal with the problem.
But she said: ‘We’re appealing to people to use their common sense for their safety, the safety of their family and indeed of the vital communities.
‘They will be welcomed back to the Highlands and islands at some point in the future – it is impossible right now.’
Asked on the BBC’s Politics Scotland programme about those that have cottages booked or other holidays in Scotland, she said: ‘People need to stay put, stay at home and stay safe.’
Scotland Office minister Douglas Ross, who represents Moray, said: ‘We have been very clear, as has the Scottish Government: stay at home, don’t risk yourself and others by going to more remote parts of the country where the NHS will be under pressure, the local shops will be under pressure.
‘Think of yourself, think of others, stay at home – it is a simple message.’ With emergency legislation being debated at Westminster on Monday, he said: ‘We shouldn’t need to enforce this but when this Bill is debated in Parliament the powers will be coming to the Scottish parliament to deal with this.
‘The advice is very clear. We need to take stark measures over the next few weeks and potentially months to suppress this virus spreading any further, to ensure our hospitals and other facilities can work at the capacity we have.
What I would say is, we’re in a lovely part of the country, enjoy this when we deal with this pandemic, when we are over the other side, having got back to normal.
‘Come to the Highlands, come to Moray, enjoy Scotland.
‘But do it in a safe way when we can all enjoy it together, rather than be selfish in coming up here thinking you can self-isolate because these are more remote parts of the United Kingdom.’
It came after widespread concern across the UK about people moving to remote parts of the country from cities and urban areas in a bid to escape the virus. Concerns have been raised in other parts of Scotland including Loch Lomond.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye and Lochaber, posted on Twitter: ‘If you live elsewhere, please don’t use the Highlands as your means of self-isolation.
‘People here are trying to follow Government guidance and the continuing flow of camper vans and other traffic who appear to be escaping the cities is not helping.’
Rural Economy and Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘I am furious at the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of some people travelling to the Highland and islands. This has to stop now.
‘Let me be crystal clear, people should not be travelling to rural and island communities full stop. They are endangering lives. Do not travel. Panic buying will have a
devastating impact on the livelihoods of rural shops and potentially puts unwanted pressure on NHS services in our rural communities.
‘The Scottish Government’s advice is that essential travel only should be undertaken.’
It came as the organisation representing tourism businesses along the A830 Road to the Isles, which connects Fort William with Mallaig, in Inverness-shire, also urged visitors to stay away.
The Road To The Isles group includes 100 accommodation and visitor-based businesses on the scenic route.
The area has an ageing population, with only one doctor and ambulance to cover it. The nearest hospital is around 100 miles away.
The organisation warned that ‘vital services’ still open there are ‘struggling to cope with demand’. Sine MacKellaig-Davis, chairman of the Road To The
Isles marketing group, said: ‘Covid-19 has changed all our lives. We now face a difficult road ahead and have a social responsibility to protect our communities.
‘For now, we ask you to stay home, care for loved ones and, as soon as it’s safe to do so, the Road to the Isles and its communities and businesses will welcome you.’
Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, said: ‘Yesterday, like many areas of Scotland, the national park saw a huge volume of visitors.
‘This included shops and cafes being overwhelmed and people clearly disregarding the national guidance on social distancing and essential travel.
‘The risks of spreading the virus in the countryside are the same as in cities and towns. In addition, local food supplies and health services needed for residents cannot cope with these extra pressures.’
He added: ‘We are now moving to close all visitor facilities, including car parks, toilets, camping and motorhome sites and our slipway, to discourage any further travel or overnight visits at this time.’