Now that the Scottish Government has advised the tourism industry can resume trading from the 15th July (subject to the continued positive progress on suppressing the COVID-19 outbreak), we now look forward to the day when we can once again welcome visitors from both the UK and overseas.
At WAS & Make Tracks; despite this announcement, we must remain cautious due to a number of factors which must taken into consideration before our walking holidays can resume to any form of normality, including;
1. Quarantine Rules - currently there is no date as to when the 14-day quarantine rule for incoming visitors to the UK will be lifted.
2. B&B guidelines - accommodation providers will be required to adhere to a number of COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations before they will be allowed to reopen. Not every B&B will be in a position to reopen immediately.
3. Service Providers - currently it is still not possible to eat and drink at the premises of any cafe, restaurant, pub, hotel, etc. Clearly these services need to be up and running in order for anyone to partake in a successful walking holiday. This could change by the end of June, however, will likely be limited to outside eating and drinking only (e.g. beer gardens). It is worth considering that, during periods of bad weather, the idea of having to dine outside is not something most people will welcome.
4. A number of tourism businesses have not yet committed to reopening on the 15th July through fear of being overwhelmed by travellers desperate for an escape after being locked down for so long. High volumes of visitors at some locations could have a detrimental effect on a walking holiday (e.g. queuing for a meal at the end of a long day on the trail). By resuming our own walking holidays a short time after the lockdown restrictions are eased, our hope is that the immediate rush will have eased off, allowing our customers to enjoy a more relaxed walk. This will also allow service providers time to get used to any new COVID related contingencies within their workplace and premises.
While the tourism industry prepares to resume on the 15th July, we must be completely confident that service providers along each of the trails are suitably equipped and prepared to cope with the high influx of visitors who are likely to travel once the lockdown measures are eased.
With this is mind, our current aim is to resume those walking holidays which are currently due to start on or after the 1st August, unless, for any reason, it is not possible to do so (e.g. if the 14-day quarantine rule for visitors to the UK is still in place, or if there are not enough service providers in operation on that particular trail). The safety and wellbeing of our customers is the ultimate priority, which will never be compromised.
It will, of course, still be an option for customers to reschedule their walking holiday to 2021, where we will be happy to carry forward any deposit paid at the time of booking. We completely understand that some clients may wish to postpone their itinerary to new dates, when the COVID-19 crisis is no longer deemed a threat to society. For existing clients, please contact Ross and the team if you wish to discuss your options.
There will undoubtedly be a number of COVID-19 related contingencies in place for some time to come, which we must learn to embed into society and our way of life until such times as the relevant political and scientific bodies across the World see otherwise.
We are one step closer to re-opening the gate to Scotland’s wonderful and breath taking countryside. By acting responsibly, with togetherness and in the best interests of every single individual affected by the coronavirus crisis; we can hopefully make not only Scotland, but also the World, a better place.
Best wishes,
Ross Mackey
