Scotland could remain closed to tourists for the duration of the summer, one of the country’s tourism chiefs has warned.
Riddell Graham, director of VisitScotland, criticised the UK government’s mixed messages on domestic travel and warned that Britons hoping to enjoy a remote escape in the Highlands in the coming months could be disappointed.
“The position in England is different to Scotland at the moment,” he said. “That causes confusion. We want to make sure that that is reduced to the minimum level.”
VisitScotland had been lobbying behind the scenes for a UK-wide approach to the tourism industry, but the lockdown in Scotland, where you are only allowed to leave your home for essential reasons, remains tighter than in England.
Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland, said on Monday: “If you are in Scotland, then the law in Scotland applies – and the law says that just now you can only be out of your own home for essential reasons.” She also stressed that “it is not OK to drive into Scotland to beauty spots to visit places and for leisure”.
This was in marked contrast to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement last weekend. He stated that people can now travel within the UK, regardless of distance – so long as there is social distancing.
