Top tips on holidaying responsibly in Scotland

The charter was launched by Scotland’s tourism minister, Fergus Ewing, today (Friday, July 3) and is full of tips aimed at promoting safe and responsible travel. The advice can be downloaded from here.

Tourism is hugely important to the Scottish economy, generating £11.5 billion annually and supporting one in 12 jobs, so the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect.

Advice included in the guide includes not travelling if you have symptoms or have been told to self-isolate, continuing social distancing, following hygiene advice, checking in advance if attractions are open, respecting local communities, and supporting the local industry.

Last week, VisitScotland announced a new marketing campaign inspiring Scots to rediscover their own country. This includes a phased approach to ensure communties do not feel swamped by visitors while getting the tourism industry back up and running.

Mr Ewing said: “Visitors are at the heart of Scotland’s tourism industry and they will be vital in restarting and recovering the sector from the devastating impacts of coronavirus.

“I’m pleased to launch this new visitor charter today, as we start to see some areas of the sector reopening. This guidance will be an instrumental tool in helping tourists travel responsibly and I encourage everybody who may be planning a staycation this year to familiarise themselves with it. We all have a part to play in ensuring the tourism industry can reopen safely and securely, whilst suppressing the spread of the virus.” 

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “We are pleased that after a very difficult few months Scotland’s tourism industry are starting to welcome visitors. However, it’s important to remember that things may be a little different now, there may be reduced facilities available or if busy, a greater need to follow physical distancing restrictions to protect yourself and others.

“Planning and researching will also become an important part of the holiday experience and we really want visitors to ‘know before they go’ when it comes to travel; checking what is open and pre-booking if required.

“By following this advice and all working together, we can help get Scottish tourism back on its feet in a safe and responsible way.”