North tourism groups urge First Minister to deliver lockdown-easing parity
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Seventy five tourism and hospitality business leaders from across the north Highlands, North Coast 500, Argyll and the Isle of Skye have personally signed an open letter to the First Minister demanding immediate action and support to protect the industry and save jobs.
The group represents more than 1200 full time equivalent seasonal and permanent jobs.
Eight destination management and business associations have also responded, who represent more than 1100 businesses in the north Highlands.
David Whiteford OBE (chairman of the North Highland Initiative) and Tanja Lister from The Kylesku Hotel in north west Sutherland are leading the two groups.
They say tourism spend in the Highlands alone is worth more than £1 billion a year, which represents more than 10 per cent of business share. It creates more than 15,700 jobs.
Tourism and hospitality have been hit very hard by the lockdown, perhaps nowhere more so than in the Highlands, with its small, highly dispersed population, fragile communities and short season.
They claim: "As soon as it is safe to do so, we need our businesses to open in alignment with the rest of Scotland, ideally the rest of the UK.
"There have been calls to extend the lockdown in the Highlands for longer, beyond the rest of Scotland or UK. Given the timing and realities of our situation, this could be ruinous. If our businesses cannot open until the autumn then, given the short season, it will be less viable for those that are seasonal to reopen until next year, meaning many will have been shut for 18 months.
"The difference between re-opening in July or September could likely be the determining factor in the survival of our industry, its suppliers and producers here.
"As we learn more about the current nature of customer demand and the appetite for a ‘staycation’, our industry will need continued financial support from the government whilst we navigate the short to medium term. Ongoing furlough, with phasing, may need to be reviewed again as we progress. Access to grants and loans will be key as we move into 2021."
In their letter, the group say: "Given the nature of our region, we firmly believe the Highlands will once more become a much sought after holiday destination. In fact, demand might ultimately grow above previous levels. However, the challenge ahead for many of us is to survive the short to medium term. The absolute imperative is to protect lives from the immediate danger of the virus.
"Once this threat recedes, we would urge the Scottish Government to ensure our ministers take a positive lead to help allay the understandable anxieties within our communities about the prospect of tourists returning once more.
"To balance both the short- and long-term impacts when evaluating the risks. Unless there is clear scientific evidence to suggest otherwise, to unlock the Highlands in alignment with the rest of Scotland, ideally the rest of the UK.
"Set out a clear, comprehensive and transparent plan including timelines. We all recognise that these are dependent upon the progress of the virus, but this will help businesses to start planning and narrow our working assumptions.
"Avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach to our diverse industry and ongoing financial support that recognises the difficulty of bridging the winter fallow period."
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