Covid-19 Archives - Page 20 of 63

SURVEY: THE IMPACT OF RESTRICTIONS ON TOURISM IN SCOTLAND

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Fiona Campbell

With much of the tourism industry reopening, the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers is asking operators to complete this quick survey to help us ascertain current business performance, recovery prospects and confidence levels within the self-catering sector.

We are running this survey in conjunction with the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, Wild Scotland and Sail Scotland, in order to establish a cross sectoral vision of tourism in Scotland.

The survey should only take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

We will be using the data collected in the survey to help inform key stakeholders, including the Scottish Government and VisitScotland, about the prospects for, and needs of, the sector in 2021. The survey results will also be used to inform and shape ASSC’s ongoing lobbying efforts with the Scottish and UK Governments.

It is through data collected from these surveys that we are able to best inform and argue on behalf of the industry. It is therefore essential that we receive as many responses as possible to help us ensure that the sector’s needs are being represented.

Thank you!

Take the survey.

Covid Restrictions in Glasgow and Moray

Posted on May 18, 2021May 19, 2021 by Fiona Campbell

The First Minister confirmed to parliament on 14th May that both Moray and Glasgow will remain at Level 3 for a further week as a “short term pause” in order to gain control of, and suppress, the rising infection rates seen in both localities, although she did add that the situation in Glasgow was causing more concern than Moray.

She also appealed to the public to restrict non-essential travel in and out of both areas and said extra financial support would be provided to Moray Council and Glasgow City Council to support affected businesses.

The ASSC undertook a survey to establish the impact on businesses outwith the immediate areas.

Key Findings:

Respondents to the survey were largely from rural areas: Highland, Moray, Fife and Argyll & Bute and Perth & Kinross with the largest number of responses.
65% of businesses outwith Glasgow have been impacted by Glasgow being kept in Level 3, with 42% of businesses outwith Moray having been impacted by Moray being kept in Level 3.
The average value of cancelled bookings as a result of guests from Moray or Glasgow not being allowed to travel over the next 7 days was £1,545.75.
The average value of cancelled bookings if restrictions are extended to 14 days in Glasgow will be £2,855.15, and £2,073.43 in Moray.
This illustrates the significant impact of localised restrictions and the associated travel bans on self-catering businesses throughout Scotland.
Self-catering relies on advance bookings, with restrictions announced at short notice rendering it virtually impossible to re-fill the booking.

Press Release: Large Self-Catering Businesses Facing “Catastrophic Cliff Edge”

Posted on May 12, 2021May 12, 2021 by Fiona Campbell

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers is calling for more support, clarity, and certainty from the Scottish Government to save the industry from a “catastrophic cliff edge”, with larger properties in a perilous situation caused by on-going restrictions.

The sector is urging ministers to better understand the pressures facing businesses under COVID-19 indoor socialising restrictions and to provide ongoing, timely, and adequate financial support in a clear, certain, fair, and consistent way.

Following a survey of its members which found that over half felt that the Scottish Government’s financial support for larger properties, those that can accommodate more than seven guests, had been “poor” or “dreadful”, the association which represents the sector stepped-up its calls for more decisive and clear action from ministers.

The survey also found that operators of larger self-catering properties lost £73,000 in turnover due to the pandemic and that 85 percent of operators were deeply concerned about the viability of their businesses in the future.

While the ASSC welcomed last month’s re-opening, concerns continue to be raised for larger properties which are currently unable to return to any semblance of normal business owing to restrictions on numbers of households.

According to the findings, 53 percent of those larger businesses are operating at a reduced capacity, and having to reduce rates, with a fifth remaining completely closed.

The restrictions on households also mean that those larger properties that do open will continue to face significant restrictions, even when Scotland finally enters level zero.

Currently, larger self-catering businesses have only had 10 weeks of viable trading in Summer and Autumn of 2020 and many are struggling to cope.

Scotland’s self-caterers are a valuable part of the Scottish tourist economy, especially in supporting outdoor activities and country sports on which the sector relies heavily.

Without real and decisive action from policymakers, the sector, which consistently helps Scots and visitors from overseas enjoy memory-making holidays, will continue to face serious challenges which many within it may well find insurmountable.

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers Chief Executive, Fiona Campbell, said:

“The situation for our hardworking self-caterers, especially those with larger businesses, has gone from deeply concerning to drastic and perilous.

“Without better understanding on the part of the Scottish Government, combined with more freedom to operate, better funding, and consistency, clarity, and fairness, many of our members will no longer be able to operate and could see their doors close permanently.

“There is still time for the Scottish Government to be there for us, but we are fast approaching a catastrophic cliff edge from which it will be nearly impossible to recover.”

Read the survey in full: ASSC Sectoral Survey on Impact of Single Household Restrictions May 2021