Golf tourism in ‘dire situation’

SCOTLAND’s golf tourism industry says the decision to remove quarantine for EU and US visitors has come too late to save the summer season.

The Scottish Government this week announced fully vaccinated people from the United States and European Union countries – except France – will be able to travel to Scotland from Monday without having to quarantine.

But golf industry bosses warned the decision has come too late to entice visitors to courses this summer.

Stuart French, chairman of the Scottish Golf Tourism Development Group, said: ‘This announcement is too late to save the industry for this year. The majority of tour operator and independent bookings have either been cancelled or rescheduled to 2022/23.

‘While it’s great the Government has [opened] up international travel, airlines aren’t suddenly going to start flying tomorrow because this announcement came out on Wednesday.

‘We’ve now gone two full years without any international business even though this is what we all survive on.

‘Businesses are now having to repay loans with grant money received to cover the 2020 season... We urgently need government support to see us through to 2022. The situation is dire.’ Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated golf tourism was worth around £286million to the Scottish economy and helped to support 4,700 jobs.

Airport bosses said they have not had any direct US flights this year and do not expect them until next year.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We recognise that this is still an extremely difficult time for many businesses and unfortunately business support cannot, and is not intended to, make up for all losses. Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have benefited from £3.7billion in support, more than a third of total Covid funding.’