The islands communities and businesses are being failed. Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “The islands have had some amazing film and documentary coverage and wonderful opportunities to promote themselves and great advocacy and marketing for Scotland and yet you can’t get there.”
Mar Crothall, pictured, said Scotland s ferries failure is just not an acceptable position i an interview as part of a special series this week. He said: It is a Scottish Government issue here. It is damaging the islands’ tourism economy and the wider economy. The message is clear to new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mairi Gougeon and Minister for Transport Graeme Dey.
NOT everyone across the Scottish tourism and hospitality sectors is feeling confident as the country further eases restrictions and starts to reopen for business. The move into level two for most of Scotland is welcome and much anticipated, but it will be an apprehensive reunion on Monday, and it looks as though some areas are likely to see a more swift return to profitable business than others. Others in Glasgow and Moray also face a longer wait for restrictions to ease after infections spikes. Along with cinemas, theatres, and concert and bingo halls, all holiday accommodation – hotels, self-catering accommodation and campsites – is back, and, with the recent opening also of shops, it is as exciting a prospect as we’ve had for some time.
HAULIERS in the Scottish islands are not surprisingly “through the roof” after ferry services were decimated amid a series of breakdowns. Tourism businesses getting ready for the reopening of the isles are concerned the Scottish Government’s plans for exiting the pandemic may also be curtailed. Four lifeline CalMac ferries have broken down in three weeks, freight has been disrupted and the redistribution of what’s left always leaves someone without. The fleet’s largest vessel, the eight-year-old MV Loch Seaforth, was due back on Monday but now it looks more likely to be some weeks away, with CalMac so far unable to source a temporary replacement.
Anger in Scottish islands over Sturgeon plan: Opinion heraldscotland.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from heraldscotland.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.