Tourism compensation call after travel ban

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has called for more financial compensation for the tourism and hospitality trade.

 

It follows the sixth review of the lockdown restrictions by the Scottish Government.

 

Eighteen local authority areas across Scotland remain at level three and Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and East Lothian have now moved up to level three.

 

Argyll and Bute remains at level two but is poised to drop to level one with an announcement expected on Tuesday December 22.

 

People in level three areas are not allowed to travel out unless for essential reasons, and visitors are not supposed to travel in.

 

But Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the SCC, said businesses across Scotland are facing the 'worst possible' situation with many visitors banned from travelling.

 

She said: 'Hampered by the stop-start implementation of yet more lockdown restrictions, together with the continued travel ban effectively cutting off the majority of Scotland, is not the news we were hoping for.'

 

She said the restrictions would be 'devastating' at what would have been a time of hope for vital trading in the lead-up to Christmas.

 

Dr Cameron said: 'Compensation has not been enough to keep our doors open. The Scottish Government needs to substantially increase the level of financial compensation for the increasing loss of trade for businesses and our employees.

 

'This is needed even more urgently than before and paid out now. The longer this continues the more jobs are potentially placed at risk.

 

'Government needs to pull out all the stops to ensure businesses can come through this crisis - behind every job loss or business closure are real people and families.'

 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pointed out that hospitality is closed entirely in large parts of England, while the whole of Wales was under restrictions similar to Scotland's level three.

 

'Further afield, many countries across Europe are re-imposing lockdowns as the winter months start to take their toll,' she said.

 

'However, I know that brings no comfort to those directly affected, so it is essential that government continues to do all we can to provide support.'

 

She said in addition to existing packages of support, the government has provided a further package of business support intended to provide extra help to businesses over  winter.

 

She added: 'Travel restrictions continue to be absolutely vital. No one who lives in a level three area, should travel outside their local authority unless essential. And people from other parts of the country should not go to level three areas unless essential.'