Scottish tourism facing summer wipe-out to protect remote areas
Scottish tourism chiefs have admitted that the whole summer may have to be written off by businesses and that the industry may not be fully up and running again until 2021 – due to concerns about the risks of coronavirus affecting remote communities.
Government agency Visitscotland says it has been given “no indication whatsoever” of when hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions will be able to welcome back visitors from outwith Scotland.
It has admitted growing numbers of businesses have already decided that “things are not looking good” for the rest of the current tourism seasons, but has urged them to seek financial help rather than “mothball” them completely.
The tourism body has raised concerns that some remote communities will feel “under threat” about the virus being brought to their area and that the infrastructure in some parts of the country could struggle to cope with a huge influx of visitors if travel restrictions are eased.
Western Isles Council and ferry operator Calmac have both issued fresh warnings on the travel restrictions in Scotland in the light of the UK Government easing the rules in England.
Speaking in an online interview, Visitscotland director Riddell Graham admitted there was “confusion” in the industry after the UK Government eased restrictions on travel in England this week, while the Scottish Government insisted a its lockdown rules would remain in place.
Asked if he had any sense that there would be an opportunity for the industry to welcome back visitors to Scotland this summer, Mr Graham said: “The straightforward answer right now is ‘no.’
“The Scottish Government has given no indication whatsoever that that is likely to change in the foreseeable future. They’re not giving anything away at the moment.
“We’re hopeful there will be some kind of reopening during 2020 but that very much depends on the political advice we get, backed up by the health advice. It may be that different parts of Scotland have to open in different ways.
“Certainly different sectors will open in different ways. Our indications are that the recovery will happen in a series of phases.
“We think people will want to do day visits because of a feeling that they need to get out and about and have been in lockdown for a long time. I think that’ll happen first.
“We think people will want to do day visits because of a feeling that they need to get out and about and have been in lockdown for a long time. I think that’ll happen first. The domestic market will be very much the first to recover, followed by the wider UK market.
“There will be some people who will be genuinely concerned about meeting other people and being exposed to visitors in a way they haven’t been up until now.
“We think some people will be genuinely concerned about travelling in groups and that the car will be coming forward as a means of getting around the countryside. That in itself causes real challenges in managing the flow of visitors.
“Speaking to the countryside people, they are concerned about managing the potential impact on some of the hotspots that they manage.
“A really important thing we have to bear in mind is the concerns of communities, such as island communities.
“Some parts of Scotland have had little or no infections. They want to make sure that that doesn’t change through an influx of visitors from outside. There is a very delicate balance to be struck.”
A spokesman for Western Isles Council said: “We are urging people to obey Scottish lockdown laws and not travel to beauty spots in the islands.”
“Some parts of Scotland have had little or no infections. They want to make sure that that doesn’t change through an influx of visitors from outside. There is a very delicate balance to be struck.”