NHI chairman urges Scottish Government to promote 'positive and uplifting' message over tourism sector reopening amid concern traditional 'Highland Welcome' could be tarnished because of lockdown easing fears
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The chairman of the North Highland Initiative has expressed concern that the fears of some north residents over tourists returning to the area could lead to a tarnishing of the traditional 'Highland Welcome'.
David Whiteford spoke out after the Scottish Government announced a conditional reopening date of July 15 for the tourism sector following the coronavirus lockdown.
He has now called on the Government to deliver a "positive uplifting message" in a bid to allay any anxiety that might be felt about the return of visitors.
Mr Whiteford, along with other tourism operators has been lobbying the Government for weeks to provide more clarity on a time frame for reopening.
He welcomed Fegus Ewing's announcement earlier this week, saying it gave tourism and hospitality businesses in the North Highlands a workable target to plan and adapt their premises to provide visitors with a hearty but safe welcome.
But he added: "Given this reopening date, we believe that it is now essential that the Scottish Government adopts more nuanced messaging to ease anxieties across the country - especially in Highlands.
"The ‘stay home and save lives’ message has been very effective, but for many people, especially those living in more remote and rural communities, there is a fear that changing this behaviour may pose a risk to public health and wellbeing.
"Our famous ‘Highland Welcome’ is at risk of becoming tarnished, affecting tourism long term, so we now need the Scottish Government to implement a national and local campaigns to allay anxiety amongst local Highland communities and deliver a positive, uplifting message as we take safe, measured steps to emerge from lockdown.
“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.
“We’d also like to see the Scottish Government working with Westminster to remove VAT completely for one year and then resumed at half of the present level, as well as creating a support mechanism to see businesses through the winter off season.”
North tourism groups urge First Minister to deliver lockdown-easing parity
