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TOURISM: Covid testing rules ‘could destroy’ tourism season

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Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council. 2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O' Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today. More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss OÕBalloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war. Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums. The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ÔZhuÕs life in BritainÕ. Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said ÒWe are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch itÕs a beautiful area of Scotland and weÕve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.Ó German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: ÒWe are in Scotland for 10 days and although weÕre not staying in Balloch we couldnÕt miss this event. ItÕs a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.Ó West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: "This yearÕs event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. ItÕs always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the GamesÕ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.Ó The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: "I am delighted with this yearÕs event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. WeÕve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this yearÕs games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support." For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at www.llhgb.com Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898 www.paulphoto.co.uk

By Democrat reporter

Scotland’s next tourism season is at “serious risk” because rigorous Covid testing requirements are being retained for international visitors, industry leaders have claimed.

Visitor testing rules are being relaxed in England but the Scottish government has said it would not follow suit at this stage because of health concerns.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance claims the divergence is harming its industry.

They claim bookings for 2022 are being lost to English competitors.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance has put its name to an open letter signed by more than 40 tourism businesses calling for an urgent meeting with the Scottish government.

Sweeney’s Cruises – one of the top businesses on the Bonnie Banks. Picture by Bill Heaney

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “I have received a steady stream of messages over the course of the weekend from businesses presenting direct and immediate evidence of the impact of the Scottish government’s decision on international travel restrictions.

“As an example, one inbound operator has been told to direct all future bookings to airports south of the border.

“It is the grave concern of many that international bookings, revenue and visitors are being lost not just now but should this policy remain, it could destroy any hopes of recovery in 2022.”

Under new regulations, Scotland will merge its amber and green lists for international travellers entering the country, while the red list – which requires a stay in a quarantine hotel – will remain the same.

The move mirrors that of the UK government, which would cover England and see the changes come into effect on 4 October.

But the Scottish government has so far declined to change its testing regime.

This means a pre-departure negative test is still required and travellers from abroad who have been vaccinated are still required to produce a negative PCR test on the second day after their arrival – while later in October travellers entering England will be able to use the cheaper lateral flow test instead.

The open letter from more than 40 tourism organisations, including the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and FSB Scotland, has been sent to Nicola Sturgeon and economic officials in the Scottish government.

It states that the “long-term impact and costs are and will be significant; our 2022 season is now at serious risk” before adding that “Scotland has now become one of the most uncompetitive destinations globally”.

Concerns

Speaking last week, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Michael Matheson said he had “concerns that the UK government’s proposals to remove the requirement for a pre-departure test for some travellers will weaken our ability to protect the public health of Scotland’s communities.”

“While we want to maintain a four nations approach to these matters, we need to consider urgently their implications.”

Scotland’s national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch has warned that removing the PCR testing requirement for new arrivals would make it harder to detect new Covid variants, as genomic testing is not possible with lateral flow tests.

 

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