Hospitality and tourism businesses join forces to call for May reopening
More than 80 hospitality and tourism businesses from across Scotland, including many in Caithness and Sutherland, have joined forces to demand a reopening of their industry on May 17.
The newly formed Hospitality and Tourism Action Group, led by Tanja Lister from Kylesku Hotel, is calling for an unlocking that would be in line with the date set out on Monday for England.
Otherwise, the group warns, "there is a risk of untold damage to Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry and the thousands of people the sector employs".
The group came together to launch a petition following Nicola Sturgeon's announcement at Holyrood on Tuesday about the road map out of lockdown for Scotland.
Far north businesses backing the campaign include Kylesku Hotel, Dornoch Castle Hotel, Mackays Hotel (Wick), the Royal Golf Hotel (Dornoch), the Royal Marine Hotel (Brora), the Ulbster Arms Hotel (Halkirk), Newton Lodge (Kylesku), Forss House, Glencanisp Lodge, Links House (Dornoch), the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Kylesku Lodges, the Station Hotel and St Clair Hotel (both Thurso), the Seaview Hotel (John O’Groats), John O’Groats Brewery, the Northern Sands Hotel (Dunnet) and the Caithness Collection of hotels comprising the Norseman (Wick), Pentland (Thurso) and Castletown Hotel.

The group has set out its own timeframe for getting the industry back on its feet after almost 12 months of lockdowns and other restrictions.
Hospitality and tourism industry operators say they have rallied to all the challenges over the past year, resulting in a successful and safe reopening in July 2020. The group says the latest announcement "demonstrates sheer disdain and contempt, not only for the industry and its employees but equally its customers and suppliers".
There are fears of widespread cancellations, with would-be visitors making plans to go elsewhere in the UK, and a summer of depressed trade.
The group is calling for immediate alignment to the dates set out in England as May 17 for hotels and restaurants and mid-April for self-catering. This, it says, is "both logical and reasonable".
The group is also asking for clarity on travel and the tier system. With so much uncertainty over international travel, it says the industry needs to maximise the opportunities from within Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The group is urging the Scottish Government "to fully recognise the significant damage to Scotland’s hospitality industry as a result of the ongoing lockdown, including the threat to around 285,000 hospitality and tourism jobs". It points out that many of these jobs are filled by people aged 18 to 25 whose lives and careers are on hold until the industry is allowed to rebuild.
Its five key requests to the Scottish Government are:
- Confirm an indicative date for the reopening of the sector as happened last summer, on the understanding that the date might move if the scientific data changes.
- Align with the rest of the UK for a strategic four-nations approach. There should be full unlock and reopening of the tourism and hospitality industry on May 17, and earlier for self-catering.
- Clarity on travel and tiers.
- Conduct an immediate review of financial support for Scotland’s hospitality sector which is "significantly lagging behind the support given in 2020". There should be "significantly more meaningful grants, at least in line with those provided during the first lockdown", and full furlough in the same vein as early 2020.
- Longer-term financial help to recognise the impact of another shortened season.
Tanja Lister said: “We’re calling for a more strategic alignment of tourism opening across the UK. The current plans, confusion and loss of confidence risk devastation for our industry and the lives and livelihoods linked to it.
“Also, the financial support on offer in 2021 is very much lacking in comparison to last year. We’re calling for full, proper furlough until their businesses are allowed to open. Anything less risks many of our businesses not reaching the starting line.
"We need more meaningful grant support that is index-linked to the rateable value of businesses. Leaving our businesses with such a significant shortfall now risks some falling at the last hurdle and would result in previous financial support having been in vain.”
Colin Thompson, managing director of Dornoch Castle Hotel, said: “Last year at the first lockdown there were several people concerned over a possible 'three winters' effect. Many thought that couldn't happen. Of course it did.
“Now, with the very late opening suggested for spring and summer 2021, a short season becomes winter four, followed by winter 2021/22, so we have the five winters building up costs in our business. A key concern now will be a lack of funds to survive next winter as it will be difficult to catch up with lost earnings over a short trading period this year.”
The May 17 online petition can be signed here.