If you have had to postpone or cancel your holidays this year in favour of staying at home to self -isolate, then you’re certainly not alone.
Maybe, once restrictions are relaxed, you’re dreaming of getting away from it all, and escape to explore the hills and glens of the Scottish Highlands, but when it does start up again, tourism in Scotland is likely to begin with a trickle of visitors rather than a deluge.
Tourism in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, is pivotal to the economy, but rural communities are understandably nervous about receiving an influx of incomers.
“Getting tourism back up and running is crucial to the overall recovery of Scotland,” says Chris Taylor, Regional Leadership Director of the Highlands and Outer Hebrides at VisitScotland. “But first and foremost it has to be done in a safe way.”
Taylor has advised that the Scottish tourist board has planned a phased approach for when the country once again is open to visitors.
“We’re in touch with other tourist boards around the world and we can see that places like France and Germany have opted for a partial reopening. I think in France there is a proposal that they would allow people to travel up to 100km (60 miles) from their home.
“Other countries are dealing with it in different ways but it will be for the Scottish and UK governments to decide how they want to do that.”
Social distancing is relatively easier when you’re outside in the Highlands, but there will maybe be some safeguarding measures when it comes to car parks, beaches, and popular beauty spots.
Gordon Morrison, CEO of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), agrees that one of the primary concerns of its members are the restrictions the two-metre guideline will place on visitor numbers.
“People’s safety is paramount, that’s the main thing”, he revealed, “but if it is possible to reduce that distance from 2 metres to 1.5 metres as it is in Germany, or to the World Health Organisation’s guidelines of 1 metre, then it does mean that more sights will be able to reopen.”
If you’re interested in walking tours of the Scottish Highlands, then visit us today!