Reopening is good news but let's be sensible says hotel owner
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A NORTH hotel owner has described plans to reopen the hospitality industry as good news – but stressed that "common sense has to prevail" to ensure coronavirus does not spread.
Andrew Mackay, who has hotels in Wick, Thurso and Castletown, welcomed the announcement made this week by Scotland's tourism secretary Fergus Ewing who said it is hoped the industry can resume on July 15 as restrictions are eased following the lockdown.
Mr Mackay said: "It is good news that we have an actual date to aim for, so long as it is safe for customers and staff and we are not putting them at risk."
He says he wants a balance between getting the economy operational again and ensuring the virus, which has caused more than 400,000 deaths worldwide, does not spread.
Mr Mackay said reopening in July would help save the season and jobs but would focus only on the domestic market.
"We would have no international visitors and that is right," he said. "From a business perspective the sooner we can open the better, but it has to be safe to do so. We don't want to put lives at risk."
Mr Mackay stressed there would have to be plans in place and strict guidelines to ensure the virus is not spread by people coming to the north of Scotland from other parts of the UK. "Common sense has to prevail. We cannot jeopardise the the health and welfare of the community," he said.
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, also backed the Scottish Government's proposal.
She said: "This will be welcome news for many in the north Highlands who are reliant on the tourism and hospitality industries for their livelihoods.
"This pandemic has already hit the sector hard and significant challenges remain, particularly with the ongoing quarantine on international arrivals and loss of the international tourist market.
"We understand that these measures remain necessary for public health, but they underline that this does not mark a 'return to normal' for the sector, and that ongoing government support will be required to ensure its survival.
"This represents a clear step in the phased reset and recovery of the Scottish economy, and it is important it is not undertaken in isolation. The wider economic needs of the area must also be considered, and appropriate Scottish Government support and investment delivered to enable this."
David Whiteford, chairman of the North Highland Initiative, the business organisation behind the North Coast 500, said: "Given this reopening date, we believe it is now essential the Scottish Government adopts more nuanced messaging to ease anxieties across the country, especially in the Highlands.
"We also urgently need to review the appropriateness of the two-metre social distancing guidelines in hospitality settings. For many businesses it will not be possible to reopen if it is not reduced.
"We need to look at what other countries have done with social distancing by reducing it from two metres to one metre. It’s the only way that many tourism and hospitality businesses will be viable."
Mr Ewing said the July 15 date cannot be definitive and is conditional on public health advice about the virus.
He pointed out that a new Scottish Recovery Tourism Taskforce will help the sector. It will look at recovery needs as well as actions being taken by the UK government and the development of a new domestic visitor marketing campaign.
Mr Ewing also said there is a £2.3 billion package of support for businesses across Scotland which includes measures specific to the tourism and hospitality industry.
Local MP Jamie Stone gave the plan a cautious welcome. He said: "Our tourism and hospitality businesses have endured a huge amount during the pandemic. Now more than ever both UK and Scottish governments should be ready to offer a financial helping hand to get them back on their feet and ready for July 15.
"I look forward to the Scottish Government's guidance, which Fergus Ewing promises to publish on June 18. It is important that businesses are given as much time as possible to prepare."
