Editing Tourism in Scotland (section)

==Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic==
Like all of the UK, Scotland was negatively impacted by the restrictions and lockdowns necessitated by the worldwide [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Tourism has particularly suffered. In October 2020, the Scottish Tourism Alliance made this comment: "The devastating impact of this pandemic will make recovery incredibly challenging, if not questionable, without the assurance of continued targeted support from both the Scottish and UK Governments".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/tourism-recovery/ |title=Tourism Recovery Recommendations|date=23 October 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=discussions led by Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, Marc Crothall, CEO, Scottish Tourism Alliance and Malcolm Buchanan, Chair of Scotland Board, RBS}}</ref> The First Minister acknowledged the setbacks that the hospitality/tourism sector had already experienced in a March 2021 speech when she announced financial support for the industry. "It's been an incredibly difficult year for all businesses" and added that she did not "underestimate the acute challenges our tourism and hospitality sectors have faced".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/news/gbp-25-million-for-tourism-recovery/ |title=£25 million for tourism recovery|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=We’ve provided an unprecedented amount of funding for the sector, including over £129 million in business suppor}}</ref>

Most reports that provide statistics on the impact of the pandemic on tourism cover the entire UK as an entity rather than specifically for Scotland. [[VisitBritain]] in April 2021, stated that the travel restrictions and lockdowns in the UK led to a 76% reduction in "inbound tourism" to the UK in 2020 and forecast for 2021 indicated an estimated that visits would be up "21% on 2020 but only 29% of the 2019 level". An increase in visits was expected but slowly at first and the report concluded that tourism was not expected to come "even close to normal levels".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitbritain.org/2021-tourism-forecast|title=2021 tourism forecast |date=20 April 2015 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote=From mid-March to mid-July, COVID-19 triggered a near-total shutdown in international tourism ... there was an increase in visitor numbers from this low point, although they remained very low, and dipped again towards the end of the year.}}</ref>

The VisitBritain report in April 2021 discussed the effects of the pandemic on domestic within the UK in 2020, citing a significant reduction in spending, for an estimated  decline of 62% over the previous year. As of January 2021, the forecast for 2021 suggested that spending would increase by 79% over the previous year and that "the value of spending will be back to 84% of 2019 levels" by the end of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitbritain.org/2021-tourism-forecast|title=2021 tourism forecast |date=20 April 2015 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote=forecast assumes a slow recovery in early 2021 before a step change in the spring ... followed by a gradual recovery throughout the rest of the year and beyond.}}</ref>

A report published in March 2021 by the [[Fraser of Allander Institute]] at the [[University of Strathclyde]] indicated that in the UK, "tourism and hospitality suffered notable losses from the pandemic" and provided detailed specifics for both domestic and international visits. This report reviewed the Scottish hospitality industry in great detail; the situation was not yet optimistic at that time, with "no sign of a trend reversal with more than 70% of businesses in the sector reporting lower turnover than usual".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fraserofallander.org/covid-19-impact-on-the-tourism-and-hospitality-sector-an-insight-from-the-latest-economic-commentary/|title=Covid-19 impact on the Tourism and Hospitality Sector, an insight from the latest Economic Commentary |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote= ... health and economic crisis ... In particular, tourism and hospitality suffered notable losses from the pandemic.}}</ref>

The Scottish Tourism Alliance Task Force published its recommendations in October 2020, with "Immediate Actions" for both the Scottish government and the UK government. The group particularly requested support for the tourism/hospitality industry, including financial grants, the funding of marketing for the sector, and a "temporary removal of Air Passenger Duty to boost route competitiveness".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/tourism-recovery/ |title=Tourism Recovery Recommendations|date=23 October 2020|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=It is imperative they work together with the industry to take action now in supporting and implementing the recommendations ... to rebuild our diverse businesses, to restore our thriving places and reimagine our memorable experiences.}}</ref> On 24 March 2021, First Minister [[Nicola Sturgeon]] announced a £25 million tourism recovery programme "to support the industry for the next 6 months to two years".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scottishtourismalliance.co.uk/first-minister-announced-25-million-for-tourism-recovery-at-sta-conference/ |title=First Minister announces £25 million for tourism recovery at STA conference|date=24 March 2021|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=The programme, which has been developed by the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) in partnership with businesses, will support the Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce objectives.}}</ref> Sturgeon reminded the hospitality/tourism industry that the government had provided "over £129 million" in support "for this sector".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/news/gbp-25-million-for-tourism-recovery/ |title=£25 million for tourism recovery|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=}}</ref>

On 5 April 2021, the BBC published specifics about domestic tourism in the UK indicating that the restrictions were to be loosened during that month, at least for domestic travel within Scotland, Wales and England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-52646738 |title=Covid: When can I go on holiday abroad or in the UK?|date=14 May 2020 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote= }}</ref> Travel within mainland Scotland was expected to be permitted again starting on 26 April. A survey in March 2021 indicated that roughly 70% of the 500 Scots surveyed were hoping to "have a holiday at home this year". The BBC recommended such "staycationing" but reminded readers that travel to "Scotland's islands or across the border at Gretna and Berwick" might not be possible for some time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56638408 |title=Covid in Scotland: Carry on staycationing|work=BBC News|date=5 April 2021|access-date=8 April 2021|quote=If the data look ripe, mainland travel within Scotland will be allowed from 26 April. Expect a rush from the cities to the hills and the coast.}}</ref>

The VisitBritain website discussed the UK's "COVID-19 restrictions" that were expected to be loosened in April but indicated that there was no confirmation as to whether the rules on international travel, either inbound or outbound, would actually be loosened in mid-May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitbritain.org/covid-19-new-coronavirus-latest-information-and-advice-businesses-1 |title=COVID-19 (new coronavirus) - latest information and advice for businesses |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote=whether non-essential international travel can resume on 17 May, or whether we will need to wait longer before lifting the outbound travel restriction.}}</ref>

It was possible that the UK's plan to loosen restrictions on inbound tourists would not commence as early as planned. On 8 April 2021 sources in the European Union stated that a "third wave of the pandemic [was sweeping] the continent". (Two days earlier, PM [[Boris Johnson]] had made it clear that "We don't want to see the virus being reimported into this country from abroad".)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-06/boris-johnson-uk-travel-reopening-coronavirus-covid-19/100050006 |title=Boris Johnson refuses to set hard date for Britain to reopen for international travel |newspaper=ABC News |date=5 April 2021 |access-date=8 April 2021|quote=Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many countries worldwide continue to restrict entry and most travel remains discouraged.}}</ref> Of particular concern was the [[Lineage B.1.1.7|B117 variant]], a mutation of the virus, "which [was] spreading rapidly in at least 27 European countries".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/european-travel-restrictions-nonessential-travel-curbed/a-56350272 |title=European travel restrictions: Nonessential travel curbed |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=8 April 2021|quote=Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many countries worldwide continue to restrict entry and most travel remains discouraged.}}</ref>

Travel restrictions were loosened in England on 12 April 2021, but not in Scotland. Some lockdown measures were expected to be relaxed on 26 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/coronavirus-scotland-live-rules-update-20362395 |title=Nicola Sturgeon update LIVE: Scotland lockdown Covid changes set to be announced |access-date=13 April 2021|quote=}}</ref> It was hoped that domestic travel would again be allowed and that cafes and restaurants would be permitted to re-open at least their outdoor facilities, as in England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56710858 |title=Covid lockdown eases: Celebrations as pub gardens and shops reopen |work=BBC News |date=12 April 2021 |access-date=13 April 2021|quote=}}</ref>