Editing Shetland (section)

=== Tourism ===

[[File:Victoria pier, Lerwick - geograph.org.uk - 908540.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Victoria pier, Lerwick. The replica Viking longboat Dim Riv is bottom left and the town hall is on the hill. Taken from the Aberdeen ferry in Bressay Sound.]]

Shetland is a popular destination for cruise ships, and in 2010 the [[Lonely Planet]] guide named Shetland as the sixth best region in the world for tourists seeking unspoilt destinations. The islands were described as "beautiful and rewarding" and the Shetlanders as "a fiercely independent and self-reliant bunch".<ref>Hough, Andrew (2 November 2010) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8101703/Shetland-Islands-among-best-places-to-visit-says-Lonely-Planet-guide.html "Shetland Islands among best places to visit, says Lonely Planet guide"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922121531/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8101703/Shetland-Islands-among-best-places-to-visit-says-Lonely-Planet-guide.html |date=22 September 2018 }}, London, ''The Telegraph'', Retrieved 7 April 2011</ref> Overall visitor expenditure was worth £16.4&nbsp;million in 2006, in which year just under 26,000 cruise liner passengers arrived at Lerwick Harbour. This business has grown substantially with 109 cruise ships already booked in for 2019, representing over 107,000 passenger visits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2018/03/12/cruise-ship-tourists-set-to-almost-double/|title=Cruise ship tourists set to almost double|date=12 March 2018|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193331/https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2018/03/12/cruise-ship-tourists-set-to-almost-double/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, the most popular visitor attractions were the [[Shetland Museum]], the [[RSPB]] reserve at Sumburgh Head, Bonhoga Gallery at [[Weisdale Mill]] and Jarlshof.<ref>Shetland Islands Council (2010) p. 26</ref> [[Geopark Shetland]] (now Shetland UNESCO Global Geopark) was established by the Amenity Trust in 2009 to boost [[sustainable tourism]] to the islands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2009/09/15/delight-as-shetlands-remarkable-rocks-recognised-with-geopark-status|title=Delight as Shetland's remarkable rocks recognised with Geopark status|date=15 September 2009|website=The Shetland Times|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802051433/https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2009/09/15/delight-as-shetlands-remarkable-rocks-recognised-with-geopark-status|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the Promote Shetland organisation's website, tourism increased "by £12.6 million between 2017 and 2019 with more than half of visitors giving their trip a perfect rating".<ref name="About"/>

An October 2018 report stated that 91,000 passengers from cruise ships arrived that year (a record high), an increase over the 70,000 in 2017. There was a drop in 2019 to "over 76,000 cruise ship passengers".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetland.org/invest/sectors/tourism#:~:text=Cruise%20tourism,arrived%2C%20with%20continued%20growth%20anticipated. |title=New plans to fire up Shetland tourism |date=30 December 2020 |work=Shetland.org Tourism |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213171418/https://www.shetland.org/invest/sectors/tourism#:~:text=Cruise%20tourism,arrived%2C%20with%20continued%20growth%20anticipated. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45822441 |title=Shetland enjoys record cruise year with 90,000 passengers |date=11 October 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716171111/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45822441 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic====
Tourism dropped significantly in 2020 (and into 2021) due to restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the major decline in the number of cruise ships that continued to operate worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/how-cruise-lines-are-preparing-for-a-post-pandemic-world |title=How Cruise Lines are Preparing for a Post-Pandemic World |date=30 September 2020 |work=Maritime Executive |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125212920/https://maritime-executive.com/features/how-cruise-lines-are-preparing-for-a-post-pandemic-world |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of early February 2021, the Promote Shetland website was still stating this information: "At present, nobody should travel to Shetland from a Level 3 or Level 4 local authority area in Scotland, unless it's for essential purposes". That page reiterated the government recommendation "that people avoid any unnecessary travel between Scotland and England, Wales, or Northern Ireland".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/responsible-travel |title=FAQs on travelling to Shetland in winter 2020 |date= |work=Promote Shetland |access-date=7 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227155926/https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/responsible-travel |url-status=live }}</ref>

A September 2020 report stated that "The Highlands and Islands region has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to date, when compared to Scotland and the UK as a whole". The tourism industry required short-term support for "business survival and recovery" and that was expected to continue as the sector was "severely impacted for as long as physical distancing and travel restrictions" remained in place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hie.co.uk/media/9646/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-highlands-and-islands.pdf |title=The Impact of COVID-19 On the Highlands and Islands |date=1 September 2021 |work=HIE |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115125449/https://www.hie.co.uk/media/9646/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-highlands-and-islands.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 31 December 2020, the usage of ferries and buses was restricted to those travelling for essential purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetland.gov.uk/news/article/112/ferries-move-to-restricted-timetable-and-bookings-system |title=Ferries move to restricted timetable and bookings system |date=31 December 2020 |work=Shetland Islands Council |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=31 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231111401/https://www.shetland.gov.uk/news/article/112/ferries-move-to-restricted-timetable-and-bookings-system |url-status=live }}</ref> The Island Equivalent scheme was introduced in early 2021 by the Scottish government to financially assist hospitality and retail businesses "affected by Level 3 coronavirus restrictions". Previous schemes in 2020 included the Strategic Framework Business Fund and the Coronavirus Business Support Fund.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetland.gov.uk/news/article/130/support-for-businesses-island-equivalent-payment |title=Support for businesses – Island Equivalent Payment |date=2 February 2021 |work=Shetland Islands Council |access-date=6 February 2021 |quote=from 28 December 2020 to 24 January 2021, businesses in Level 3 island areas, including Shetland, can now apply for a payment of £2,000 or £3,000}}</ref>