New guidance to help limit the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Scotland has been published. This latest guidance took effect from 00.01 this morning (Friday 17 December).
Businesses will now be legally required to take reasonable measures to minimise transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The guidance will support businesses to put in place a range of public health measures that will help keep people safe, including enabling home working for those who are able to work from home – something that is key to breaking chains of transmission.
Masks should be worn in all businesses, and retail and hospitality businesses should consider ‘reasonable measures’ to reduce crowding and manage queues.
Workplace testing is being extended and businesses with more than 10 employees are encouraged to sign up to receive free lateral flow test kits to ensure staff are able to test regularly.
To help mitigate further economic harm as a result of this vital public health guidance, a £100 million financial package for eligible businesses is also being established to support them through this period. £100 million for self-isolation support grants is also being made available to those who need it.
The Economy Secretary is engaging with affected business groups and details of the funding is to be set out shortly.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said yesterday: “The Omicron variant is spreading at a rapid pace and we have had to work extremely quickly to get revised guidance in place for businesses, to take effect from 00.01 Friday 17 December.
“It is crucial that everyone follows this guidance to support businesses to keep their premises safe and prevent transmission of Omicron, especially as we ramp up booster vaccinations. Please get your booster, test regularly, follow the guidance, wear a mask and distance from people when you’re out and about. All of these layers of protection will help to limit the spread of Omicron, especially as we approach the festive period.
“I am also making a plea to be considerate to staff who are doing their best during this challenging period.
“In addition to guidance, we know that businesses need financial support now. We are working to get funding out to businesses as soon as we can but the Treasury must also step up and provide urgent funding beyond what we are able to provide.
“I wrote to the Chancellor last night and the First Minister has requested talks with the Prime Minister – this situation is serious and we need the UK Government to engage with us on further support.”
InterContinental Edinburgh The George has commissioned historians from the University of Edinburgh to explore the hidden stories behind the iconic building and local area.
The tour is part of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 75th anniversary celebrations, in which the world’s largest luxury hotel brand marks special moments that have taken place within the walls of its’ hotels across the world and looks forward to continuing its journey of innovation in the luxury travel space.
To share these stories, InterContinental Edinburgh The George has partnered with VoiceMap to develop an exclusive audio walking tour guide for guests and visitors to the city. Developed and narrated by Dr Esther Mijers and Professor Ewen Cameron, historians from the University of Edinburgh, the tour unlocks Edinburgh’s hidden history, showcasing the lesser-known stories of city.
Starting at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, the audio tour tells the lesser known stories behind the renowned hotel. During the 19th Century the hotel was a collection of five prestigious townhouses and home to the well-known Ferrier family, who boast a historical connection to Scotland’s literature scene.
Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns were frequent guests, while their daughter and novelist, Susan Ferrier – commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s Jane Austen’ – was somewhat of an unsung hero in Scottish literature.
Guests are then guided to seven other locations across the city including:
17 Heriot Row, the home of one of Scotland’s most famous writers, Robert Louis Stevenson – author of Treasure Island.
Edinburgh Academy Senior School, a school that exemplified the very best of a structured education for the youth of the ever-growing New Town of Edinburgh and has since produced notable alumni.
St Andrew Square, where James Craig’s plans to build a church, dedicated to patron Saint Andrew were foiled by Lawrence Dundas. The church was instead built on George Street itself, right next door to InterContinental Edinburgh The George.
St James Quarter, to uncover the origins of the original site – St James Square.
Old College, University of Edinburgh, the site where the mysterious murder of Lord Darnley, the unpopular second husband of Mary Queen of Scots, took place in February 1567.
The Old Medical School, to reveal the story of The Edinburgh Seven – pioneers of women’s education in the UK whose trailblazing campaign prompted a change in the law that allowed women to study medicine in the UK.
George Square, to tell the tale of its’ notable residents including Sir Walter Scott who, whilst living there, was working furiously to pay off the debts acquired from the collapse of his publisher, Ballantynes, of which he was a partner.
Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager InterContinental Edinburgh, The George said:“It is hugely exciting to be launching our own unique Hidden Histories walking tour in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.
“Forming part of our celebration of 75 years of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, it is a brilliant way to indulge in the nostalgia of the city and the perfect activity for our guests and likeminded explorers while staying here in Edinburgh.
“This walking tour is a celebration of the rich heritage within the city of Edinburgh, our iconic hotel and the exclusive experiences we can offer to our guests both from the UK and across the globe.”
Professor Ewen Cameron, the University of Edinburgh said: “It has been brilliant to have been involved in developing this audio walking tour for the guests of InterContinental Edinburgh The George.
“It is important that we continue to highlight and tell the stories that lie hidden within the walls of the city of Edinburgh, and this walking tour does just that.”
Guests of InterContinental Edinburgh The George will be able to enjoy the walking tour, by booking the Hidden Histories package, inclusive of a luxurious picnic hamper, or by obtaining a voucher code from the hotel concierge team.
As part of the celebration of its’ history and heritage and the brand’s 75th Anniversary InterContinental Edinburgh The George will also be serving up the limited-edition InterContinental75 cocktail.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have reimagined the well-loved classic, French 75 to celebrate this milestone year, with partners Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and the artisanal hand-crafted Botanist Islay Dry Gin, distilled on the Scottish Isle of Islay.
For more information about the InterContinental Edinburgh The George visit:
The world’s first ever UNESCO trail, bringing together some of Scotland’s most iconic, diverse and culturally significant sites, has been launched.
Scotland’s UNESCO Trail connects the country’s 13 place-based UNESCO designations, including World Heritage Sites, Biospheres, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities to form a dedicated digital trail.
It aims to take visitors on a cultural journey across the country experiencing everything from history to science, music, design and literature to nature and cityscapes.
Designed specifically to support ambitions to make Scotland a world-leading responsible tourism destination, Scotland’s UNESCO Trail encourages visitors to stay longer, visit all year round, make sustainable travel choices, explore more widely and at the right time of the year, and in turn, contribute to the sustainable quality of life of those communities surrounding the designated sites.
The digital trail – which is available on www.visitscotland.com/unesco-trail – showcases the breadth of culturally astounding UNESCO designations on offer across Scotland, providing information and inspiration to visitors across the world. It also celebrates businesses and communities that are committed to responsible tourism business practices and promotes sustainable travel options.
Scotland is the first nation in the world to create such a pioneering initiative. Developed through a unique partnership between VisitScotland, the Scottish Government, the UK National Commission for UNESCO, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland and Scotland’s 13 UNESCO designations, the project has received £360,000 funding from the Scottish Government to support the strategy for the sustainable recovery of Scottish tourism.
Tourism Minister Ivan McKee officially launched the trail in Dundee, the UNESCO City of Design, by unveiling a specially commissioned design by illustrator and printmaker, Jagoda Sadowska, a graduate of the city’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.
The design has been printed onto a door, which will be incorporated into the city’s Open Close tour as a permanent legacy of the trail.
Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said: “Scotland has always been a pioneering nation and I’m pleased to see we’re leading the way with the world’s first UNESCO digital trail.
“Tourism is key to Scotland’s economy and as we begin to recover from the pandemic, this collaboration between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, NatureScot and UNESCO could not be more timely.
“Supported by £360,000 of Scottish Government funding, the UNESCO Trail will help to attract and welcome both domestic and international visitors again, by showcasing Scotland’s unique cultural heritage and many UNESCO sites. As we approach COP26, I’m pleased to see that the UNESCO trail has sustainability at its core and will help visitors make responsible and sustainable choices by highlighting green accredited businesses and promoting environmentally friendly travel.”
Francesca Osowska, CEO of NatureScot and Chair of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail Steering Group, said:“The Trail is a hugely exciting global first, inspiring visitors to Scotland to journey through its unique natural and cultural heritage.
“All the designations in the Trail have a distinctive story to tell and we hope that, whether people visit just one, or travel to all the sites, they will be wowed by what they see.
“Responsible tourism and greener travel are at the heart of our ambitions for the UNESCO Trail. This will lead to a more sustainable economy and will help to create better places for people to live and visit in every corner of Scotland. This is so essential as we work to tackle the nature loss and climate change crises and prepare to host COP26.”
VisitScotland Director of Industry and Destination Development, Rob Dickson, said: “There is no other journey like Scotland’s UNESCO Trail and we want to inspire visitors to take a once-in-a-lifetime experience across the country, delving into its history and heritage, experiencing the wonder of its natural assets and the magic that inspires art, music and literature.
“The innovative trail not only showcases the breadth of culturally astounding UNESCO designations we have across Scotland but also the exceptional visitor experiences this trail creates.”VisitScotland is focused on the recovery of the industry, building a destination and visitor experience which allows tourism and events to flourish now and in the future. We’ll continue to work with, and support, businesses to ensure we rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy.
“Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it. “
Professor Anne Anderson, Non-Executive Director at the UK National Commission for UNESCO said: “Scotland’s UNESCO Trail is a world-first bringing together Scotland’s world-class cultural and natural heritage. Not only this, the Trail does so within UNESCO’s broader aims of building peace and sustainable development.
“Across Scotland, these UNESCO designations are local partnerships and communities that protect and promote their outstanding creativity, cultural heritage and the natural environment. By partaking in the Trail, visitors from around the world will rediscover Scotland’s unique treasures, know they are travelling sustainably, and contribute to the communities who maintain these precious places.
“From the stunning mountains of the northwest Highlands, the heart of Neolithic Orkney, the vibrant music scenes of Glasgow, to Edinburgh’s outstanding heritage and literature festivals, there is a wealth of people and places waiting to welcome you.”
Artist Jagoda Sadowska said:“It’s been a great pleasure to be involved in the project. Dundee is a wonderful city and hopefully, with the opening of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, it will get even more recognition and appreciation.
“As someone who recently graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, I feel extremely fortunate to be able to pursue Illustration as a full-time job. Dundee is filled with warm and motivated people that create an encouraging environment for upcoming artists.
“There’s a strong sense of community that is both friendly and welcoming and had a fundamental influence on my practice. Creative Dundee does a wonderful job of connecting people, providing space and opportunities for creatives.
“I hope the Trail can work as a gateway to allow more people to experience the City of Dundee and beyond.”
The full list of designations included in Scotland’s UNESCO Trail are the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere, Dundee UNESCO City of Design, Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Glasgow UNESCO City of Music, Shetland UNESCO Global Geopark, North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark, the Forth Bridge UNESCO World Heritage Site, Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Antonine Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site, Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site, St Kilda World Heritage Site.
Did you know Scotland is home to six World Heritage Sites, two Biosphere Reserves, two Global Geoparks, and three creative cities? That’s a supersized helping of history, nature and culture right on your doorstep!
If you aren’t sure what UNESCO status means, it’s similar to how National Park status helps to tell you a place is special.
Scotland is now the first country in the world to bring these truly unique sites together into trails to enjoy at a pace that suits you.
Over a third of parents (37%) are not organising their usual summer family holiday due to pandemic uncertainty
Almost half (47%) stating they would consider a London city break over their usual beach holiday
70% of parents cited ‘keeping the kids entertained’ as the number one challenge faced during the school holidays
Mayor joins with his new Mayors of Play to launch a reimagined version of the iconic London Tube map at ZSL London Zoo today to showcase the abundance of family-friendly indoor and outdoor events and activities across central London
Map has been curated by the new Mayors of Play – five lucky youngsters who are helping the Mayor to spotlight London’s family-friendly offering this summer
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, yesterday visited ZSL London Zoo to unveil a reimagined Tube map co-curated by his five new Mayors of Play to encourage families from across the UK to spend their summer in the capital.
The map launches as new research reveals the pandemic has left many parents unable to plan summer holidays as they usually would, with over a third (37%) of parents stating that they’ve not organised anything this summer due to pandemic uncertainty. As a result, London, with its abundance of activities and experiences is a must-visit destination for families everywhere.
And, with the same research showing that one in ten (14%) Brits have never visited London, 26% citing it is because they’ve never got round to it – this could be the summer where Brits choose the bright lights of the capital over often crowded coastal destinations.
Across the UK, parents in the North East are most likely to venture into London this summer, with 56% saying they’d consider a holiday in the capital. Parents in this region have stated that the vast choice of family friendly activities (18%), mix of outdoor and indoor activities (12%) and the city’s accommodation (10%) as the top three reasons for their city jaunt.
Sadiq’s Family Fun season is part of ‘Let’s Do London’, the biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital has ever seen. The season showcases the abundance of activities on offer for all families of all ages this summer and celebrates London’s status as Britain’s biggest playground.
The reimagined Tube map has been curated ‘for kids, by kids’ with the help of his newly appointed Mayors of Play. Following a hotly contested competition, the five winning Mayors of Play – Maya, 8, Elliott, 9, Mateo, 9, Narumukai, 10, and Nevaeh 11 – attended a summit at City Hall in July to help select a raft of thrilling, family-friendly activities in the heart of the capital.
The unique and vibrant guide invites families across London and nationwide to plan a day trip, mini break or a longer staycation in the city as it bursts back to life.
The new map focuses on Central London and features a mix of permanent and new accessible experiences indoors and outdoors that are open to families this summer – from firm favourites such as ZSL London Zoo, to the hottest new tickets in town including Sketch on the Square by the National Gallery and Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser at the V&A.
Both a mix of free and ticketed events are present, accommodating all family budgets, which will undoubtably please parents given the strain of entertaining the family over the lengthy holiday period.
Across London, children under five travel free with a fare-paying adult, Children under 11 can travel free on buses and trams at any time, and on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and some National Rail services with a fare paying adult. Visitors to London can travel easily and conveniently by using pay as you go with contactless or Oyster.
When surveying the nation’s parents, the key challenges which emerged during the summer break included the cost of keeping children entertained (45%), finding fun activities to suit the whole family (33%) and children saying they were bored (33%).
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “After a long period which has seen children in particular miss out on so much fun and play due to the pandemic, there’s no time like the present to explore our city and enjoy all the fun and accessible activities London has to offer families this summer.
“The young Mayors of Play were tasked with helping me showcase the very best of family fun in London, and I’m delighted with the outcome of their hard work. This reimagined edition of our iconic Tube map showcases the breadth of the capital’s offering through the eyes of little Londoners – it’s for kids, by kids.
“With 70 per cent of families struggling to keep their children entertained during the school holidays, London – with its abundance of free things to do and exciting places to see – is an ideal holiday destination this summer and beyond.”
Kathryn England, Chief Operating Officer at ZSL London Zoo, said:“We’re delighted to welcome families back to our zoo this summer. Our hard working and passionate zookeepers, alongside our vast wildlife truly make this zoo a must-visit attraction in London – we’re thrilled the Mayors of Play agree!”
Mayor of Play, Elliott, 9, said:“It was really tricky choosing what to go on the Tube map – there’s so much fun stuff to do in London!
“Hopefully it will help other kids and their families explore this magical city this summer.”
Scotland moves to a ‘modified’ Level 0 from tomorrow, Monday 19th July.
Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:“The confirmation that Scotland will move to Level 0 on 19th July marks another encouraging milestone towards the full re-opening of Scotland’s economy and business’s ability to recover.
“The fact remains though that the modified framework deviates away from what businesses had been preparing for and moving the goalposts at this late stage will cause uncertainty, negatively impacting on business confidence and recovery.
“The postponing of the phased return of offices will be a bitter blow for employees and employers alike, many of which had been getting ready to welcome employees back into offices from next week. T
“his will also sound alarm bells for those town and city centre businesses, reliant on office worker footfall and custom, who now need to wait another month until those workers start to return.
“Scotland’s hospitality sector, one of the hardest hit by restrictions, will be concerned that anticipated restrictions were not lifted, including little reprieve for the night-time economy, with challenging restrictions on trading remaining.”
On changes to rules for self-isolation and quarantine, Liz Cameron said:“A greater four-nations alignment on international travel restrictions and self-isolation is positive, however, until all restrictions are lifted many businesses operating in Scotland’s travel and tourism sector simply won’t be able to open.
“The international travel industry is vital to Scotland’s wider tourism and hospitality sectors, and it’s essential that financial support for these businesses is not only continued but enhanced to allow them to fully recover when restrictions do finally lift.”
On moving beyond Level 0, Liz Cameron said:“Our view is clear that we should continue on the path set out towards the lifting of all restrictions on the 9th of August as planned.
“The role of the Scottish and UK Government must evolve to enable businesses and communities to operate with autonomy, according to personal circumstances, business preferences and sectoral requirements.”
STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer, said: “We welcome the more cautious approach set out today by the First Minister. The trade union movement has consistently called for a cautious approach to easing restrictions, based on the data in conjunction with vaccine uptake.
“Many workers will be breathing a sigh of relief at the continuation of mandatory use of face masks. However, for hospitality staff, many of whom will not yet be fully vaccinated, the announcement of larger indoor events may understandably cause fear and worry.
“When planning for the return to office working, we need employers to work with trade unions and employees to consider a phased and flexible approach for their return to work, ensuring workers’ health and wellbeing is protected while working from home or in the office.”
Councillor KATE CAMPBELL, Convener for Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, writes about Edinburgh’s ambitions to be a Living Wage city.
Fair work. You’d think in Scotland in 2021 we wouldn’t need the ‘fair’. Just the concept of work in one of the most prosperous, democratically developed and progressive nations in the world – it should just include a presumption that work will be fair.
But sadly, that isn’t the case.
We’ve too many workers in our city paid the minimum, not the living wage – that’s around 38,000 people who earn less than £9.50 per hour. Many don’t have job security or guaranteed hours. Many have little or no access to training or development and lack any form of representation through trade unions.
I’m not going to pretend that the City of Edinburgh Council alone can fix this. We can’t. But there are some things we can do.
Firstly – we’re going to make Edinburgh a Living Wage city.
Step one is to acknowledge all the fantastic employers in our city. We need to champion the people and organisations who recognise the value of their staff. And the benefit of investing in them. And we need to come together to promote those benefits.
We’re setting up a group of existing living wage employers across different sectors. We’ll work together to understand the barriers that prevent organisations becoming living wage employers, and how we can break down those barriers. And then we’ll put together an action plan.
It’s clear that in Edinburgh tourism is a major employer, and we know that hospitality is one of the areas that has historically struggled to pay the living wage.
But hospitality businesses have also been hit hard during the pandemic – reduced capacity due to social distancing, closure due to lockdowns, outbreaks and the need to self-isolate.
As labour shortages arise from Brexit there will be a need for businesses to offer more to retain skilled staff. Fair work and the living wage will be absolutely key.
Over recent years we’ve seen customers ask more of businesses – sustainability is a good example. People want to spend money with organisations that they believe are contributing to saving the planet, or at least working hard to mitigate any negative impacts from their activity. It costs more – but customers value sustainability so it pays for itself.
So, it’s important that as customers we are asking for the same ethical values of fair employment – because as citizens we will all benefit.
The pandemic has hit many hard but people on the lowest wages, and small businesses, have undoubtedly borne the brunt. Let’s all be part of the recovery to a better city. It’ll be hard for some businesses to make the leap to becoming living wage employers – so let’s make sure we support and encourage them.
Get involved in Scotland’s new recruitment campaign to support the tourism industry
In partnership with Scottish Government, the Scottish Tourism Alliance has launched a new campaign to address the current staffing crisis within Scotland’s tourism industry, a crisis caused by the impact of Covid-19 and the workforce shortage resulting from Brexit.
The aim of the campaign is to support your business in recruiting talent for the diverse range of positions which are currently available and to inspire young people to play an important role in the recovery of Scotland’s valuable tourism and hospitality industry, by choosing a job within the sector.
The initiative, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by a range of organisations and charities, will run from July 5 to August 15 and is supported by the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Skills Development Scotland, Springboard, HIT Scotland, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise.
How can you help?
As part of the campaign all tourism businesses in Scotland are asked to list your vacancies, part-time and permanent on all levels (FREE) on the Careerscope jobs portal. The jobs will then be available to all Careerscope users and those with profiles will be matched to suitable advertisements.
How can you get involved?
As well as making sure your current vacancies are listed on the Careerscope portal, all tourism and hospitality businesses are asked to get involved by sharing the campaign on your own social channels with the hashtag #DoWhatYouLove.
To support businesses there are a range of resources available for use on your digital channels and you can download the Recruitment Campaign Toolkit here.
Tourism organisations will be able to apply for funding to promote key visitor destinations in a responsible and sustainable way, helping the sector to recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Administered by VisitScotland, the £3 million Destination and Sector Marketing Fund will support eligible groups develop strong visitor marketing campaigns that position Scotland as a year-round destination to the UK and Irish markets.
The fund opens for applications on 1 June and will be split into three tiers, focusing on city, regional and national tourism groups. It is part of the £25 million investment in the tourism sector and will help deliver the post-Covid recovery programme developed by the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) and the Scottish Tourism Recovery Task Force.
Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult year for our tourism and hospitality sectors but, as we begin to reopen the economy and domestic travel resumes, this new fund will help to promote some of Scotland’s most scenic beauty spots to our closest markets.
“The fund stems from the work of the Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce and demonstrates our commitment to getting the sector firmly back on its feet again – a commitment backed by £25 million investment. Scotland is one of the world’s most iconic destinations and we must work together to deliver a sustainable recovery.”
Director of Industry & Destination Development at Visit Scotland and Chair of STERG Riddell Graham, said: “The Destination and Sector Marketing Fund has been designed to help accelerate the recovery of Scottish tourism in the immediate to medium term by focusing on the domestic market.
“By using the latest insights, groups across Scotland will develop and promote visitor experiences both sustainably and responsibly to help stimulate demand in the domestic market all year-round.
“VisitScotland is focused on the recovery of the industry, building a destination and visitor experience which allows tourism and events to flourish now and in the future. We’ll continue to work with, and support, businesses to ensure we rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy.”
The Fund will be split into three tiers: City Region Award Programme (with awards on offer between £50k and £100k); Regional Destination Organisations and Pan Scotland Sector Groups (with awards between £40k and £80k); and Local Destination Organisations, Marketing Groups and non-Pan Scotland Sector Groups (with awards between £10k and £20k).
New figures show visitor numbers slumped 34 million in 2020, a fall of 63.2%
Continued restrictions mean many attractions cannot reopen fully, a survey reveals
Staycationers urged to support Scotland’s visitor attractions this summer
New figures have revealed the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Scotland’s visitor attractions.
Overall visitor numbers slumped by almost 34 million in 2020, a fall of 63.2%, with 153 sites closed for the full 12 months, according to data from the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Edinburgh Castle – Scotland’s busiest paid-for attraction in 2019 – saw visitor numbers drop by 87.2% with figures for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, in Glasgow, and the National Museum of Scotland falling 85.8% and 79.9% respectively.
Data from the Moffat Centre’s Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor 2020 shows attractions with large outdoor areas outperformed museums/art galleries and castles.
Edinburgh Zoo was Scotland’s busiest paid-for site last year, attracting 292,631 visitors, a drop of 46.4% on the previous 12 months. Culloden Visitor Centre attracted 182,496 visitors as it recorded battlefield-only visits for the first time and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was the most popular free site with 452,479 visits.
The Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor shows the overall number of visits dropped from 53,722,691 in 2019 to 19,785,282, across 638 sites.
Professor John Lennon, Director of the Moffat Centre at GCU, said: “The impact of COVID-19 was felt across all aspects of the Scottish visitor attractions sector as travel was restricted, the international market collapsed and the wider economy was impacted.
“Attractions are an essential element of the Scottish visitor experience. With international tourism unlikely to return until well into 2022, domestic visitors will provide the sole source of income. Their custom will be vital going forward.”
Two-thirds of attractions reopening last week expect to operate with either reduced hours, some facilities closed, or at weekends-only, to keep costs down, according to a survey of operators, carried out by the Moffat Centre in partnership with The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA).
The survey, conducted in April, revealed that one in eight sites will remain closed for all of 2021 without a further easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Industry leaders are now warning many smaller attractions are at risk of closing for good without ongoing financial support from the UK and Scottish Governments.
Gordon Morrison, ASVA Chief Executive, said: “Whilst the majority of attractions are reopening from this week onward, it’s extremely concerning that so many sites feel it’s not viable for them to open fully, or even at all this year, due to continuing restrictions.
“Our last survey in March revealed the continuation of 2m physical distancing means 54% of attractions are either forced to remain closed or will lose money when they do reopen. Those findings, combined with our April survey, highlight just how vulnerable the attractions sector is and how incredibly challenging its economic recovery will be.
“Now more than ever, this important sector of our country’s £11bn tourism industry not only needs continued government support to survive and thrive but also needs the public to get behind it.
“Visitors can expect the warmest of welcomes and be assured that the highest standards of safety protocols – praised by the Scottish Government as exemplary – have been put in place across the sector for their benefit.
“And with sites predicted to be at least 30% less busy this year due to the fact that there will be significantly fewer international visitors, those from Scotland and the rest of the UK can take advantage of a rare opportunity to experience our world-class attractions and all that they offer in a uniquely enjoyable, memorable way.”
TOP 10 PAID ADMISSION ATTRACTIONS
Attraction
2020
2019
% 20/19 17/16
Edinburgh Zoo
292,631
545,562
-46.4%
Edinburgh Castle
276,950
2,167,366
-87.2%
Culloden Visitor Centre
182,496
209,011
-12.7%
Edinburgh Bus Tours
163,429
614,928
-73.4%
Glenfinnan Monument
162,536
462,235
-64.8%
Culzean Castle and Country Park
128,328
333,965
-61.6%
Crathes Castle
103,209
153,217
-32.6%
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
88,976
261,283
-65.9%
Stirling Castle
79,000
609,698
-87.0%
The Royal Yacht Britannia
67,734
357,271
-81.0%
TOP 10 FREE ADMISSION ATTRACTIONS
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
452,479
991,479
-54.4%
National Museum of Scotland
445,217
2,210,114
-79.9%
Greyfriars Kirkyard
322,317
1,273,113
-74.7%
Scottish National Gallery
304,560
1,583,231
-80.8%
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
259,978
1,832,097
-85.8%
Riverside Museum
246,933
1,364,739
-81.9%
Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop
159,304
772,448
-79.4%
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
148,204
508,090
-70.8%
National War Museum
124,327
805,934
-84.6%
Gallery of Modern Art
96,391
576,689
-83.3
*Top 10 Free Admission attractions table does not include Country Park Attractions
Note: The vast majority of attractions closed down between the 13th and 23rd of March 2020 due to the shutdown caused by Coronavirus (COVID-19).
From the w/c 29th June 2020 visitor attractions such as Gardens and Wildlife/Animal were permitted to reopen, however, it should be noted that many did not open until the 1st of July 2020 (or later).
The W/C 15 July 2020 saw a further relaxing of the coronavirus measures, which permitted more visitors attractions, including most indoor attractions, to reopen.
The introduction of the Scottish Government Strategic Framework in October presented more challenges
