Caithness hotels likely to be affected by downturn in visitors due to coronavirus
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LOCAL hotels could be among those in the tourism industry facing a downturn in business this season due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
Andrew Mackay, of the Caithness Collection of hotels, said that coach tours could well be affected.
"It is our core business in all three hotels," he said.
"We are just bracing ourselves. It is really out of our control.
"If we are quiet we will be unable to buy locally so it will have knock-on effects."
We are just bracing ourselves. It is really out of our control.
Caithness Collection already has a coach tour at the Pentland Hotel in Thurso this month, with one due at the Norseman Hotel in Wick at the end of April.
Mr Mackay said: "It depends how things develop, but I think it will affect us."
He felt North Americans would be more wary of travelling, saying: "That is a big chunk of our business. At the moment we have contacted two tour operators.
"One is holding quite strong, while the other one is getting quite anxious."
