Highland business leaders step up plea to First Minister over reopening of tourism sector
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Some of the biggest names in tourism across Highlands are stepping up their campaign for urgent action to help reopen businesses this summer.
Co-ordinated by the chairman of the North Highland Initiative, David Whiteford, and Tanja Lister from The Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland, 75 tourism and hospitality business leaders have once again written to the First Minister demanding clarity on timelines for reopening businesses of all types and workable social distancing protocols for tourism and hospitality venues.
Claiming to represent more than 1200 full time equivalent seasonal and permanent jobs signatories include the North Coast 500 organisation, the Inverness Hotel Association and Inverness-based Williamson Foodservice.
They originally wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with their concerns earlier this month.
Having been in discussions with Fergus Ewing, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, since then they tell the First Minister this week: "As part of our discussion with the cabinet minister, we have been asked to liaise and co-ordinate our efforts with other national tourism bodies.
"Whilst this interaction is increasingly taking place, we do still feel that the Highlands presents a special case which requires urgent attention.
"A recent study undertaken by the Federation of Small Businesses has shown that across the UK 41 per cent of small businesses are currently shut, a figure which rises to 53 per cent in Scotland and, concerningly, 64 per cent in the Highlands.
"This reflects the increased reliance upon tourism in our area.
"Shockingly, the survey also reveals that 36 per cent of these businesses fear they may never be able to reopen."
They add: "With almost all other European countries having now published clear timelines for the reopening of their hotels and restaurants, and with England expected to follow suit soon, our ongoing message that ‘Scotland is closed’ risks bookings for the summer being transferred elsewhere.
"There would be little point in reopening our businesses over the summer if we have missed the boat.
"Equally, businesses will need time to plan. It will take time to ensure our venues are adapted to suit new regulations, equipment (much of it already in short supply) will need to be ordered, staffing levels will need to be reviewed and time for training factored in.
"The more time we have to plan, the more we can ensure a readiness to reopen safely.
"As mentioned in our previous letter, we all recognise that these dates would be dependent upon progress against the virus, but having a tentative date is better than none at all."
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