The Scottish Government has asked the country’s tourism and hospitality sector to prepare for reopening on 15 July, if sufficient progress has been made to ensure safe reopening following the COVID-19 crisis.

Spectacular Edinburgh Castle © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam, all rights reserved

New guidance has been published by the Scottish Government to help the sector reopen safely, along with the creation of a new Scottish Recovery Tourism Taskforce.

The guidance sets out the key public health measures that need to be taken to allow safe reopening, including:

• Establishing physical distancing taking account of organisational capacity, queue management, signage and markings
• Enhanced hand hygiene measures and cleaning practice
• Advice on workforce planning, including training and equality issues
• Guidance for customers to ensure they know how to plan ahead and engage safely with the tourism and hospitality sector.

Magnificent Loch Lomond

Scottish Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “We want a strong tourism and hospitality sector to help drive Scotland's economic recovery and future prosperity.

“Industry is telling us what it needs and we are listening. Last week we provided clarity on a potential reopening date and announced a specialist task force to look at the recovery process we face. Now we have published guidance to help get the sector up and running again safely.

“The coming months will be extremely challenging, but the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to ensure this vital sector bounces back.” 

The Kelpies in Falkirk © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam, all rights reserved

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of Scotland's national tourist agency VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted to start seeing real clarity for the tourism industry – both through the proposed date and these new guidelines which we will help to promote across Scotland. 

“It is understandable that people will be anxious about travelling and crucial that they are reassured that the tourism industry is doing everything it can to restart the holiday season as safely as possible. Everyone is excited about being able to get tourism up and running again and these guidelines will give the industry the insight they need to reopen.”

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, added: “It’s great news that there is now a route map for tourism and hospitality businesses in Scotland to start trading again. With enhanced safety measures in place, we’re sure that the sector will soon begin to recover and that once again people will be able to enjoy vacations, meals out and visits to Scotland’s many wonderful attractions. We look forward to bringing our tours again soon!”

If you or your group would like to start planning a visit to Scotland when things get back to normal, please do contact our friendly team. From the rugged mountains and vast lochs of The Highlands to the culture and history of the splendid capital city Edinburgh, Scotland truly does have something for everyone.

At Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, we take the health and safety of all those who travel with us extremely seriously. Read more here and let’s start travelling again while keeping safe!