We are in crisis, say golf tourism bosses
HAILED as the ‘home of golf’, Scotland attracts visitors from all over the globe, eager to play or see where it all started.
Yet fears have been raised about the future of the country’s courses, with warnings of ‘dire’ losses due to pandemic quarantine laws.
Last week, the Scottish Government said that citizens of the United States and European Union countries – except France – who have been fully vaccinated can travel to Scotland from tomorrow without having to quarantine.
But golf bosses warned last night that the decision has come too late for the summer season and has left a number of courses in the lurch.
Stuart French, chairman of the Scottish Golf Tourism Development Group and in-bound golf tour operator at Platinum Golf Scotland, said: ‘This announcement is too late to save the golf tourism industry for this year.
‘The majority of tour operator and independent bookings for this year, and what’s left of it have either cancelled or rescheduled to 2022/23. August clients cancelled a long time ago, as well as September clients.
‘And a global event in October, with people coming from Asia, Europe and North America, has been cancelled because they couldn’t wait any longer.’
Mr French said the industry will have gone two full years without any international business – which it relies on to survive. Calling for government support ‘to see us through to spring 2022’, he warned: ‘There’s going to be lots of businesses going to the wall. The overall situation is dire.’
Last night, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Unfortunately business support cannot, and is not intended to, make up for all losses.’