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Friday, March 29, 2024

NHI Responds to Release of Scottish Government’s Tourism & Hospitality Sector Guidance

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Pictured: David Whiteford OBE (Chair of the North Highland Initiative).

David Whiteford OBE, Chair of the North Highland Initiative, said:

“As we work towards the conditional reopening of the tourism and hospitality sector in Scotland on the 15th July, the North Highland Initiative welcomes the release of the Scottish Government’s sectoral guidelines.

“We hope this will give North Highland businesses a practical and workable target to plan and adapt their premises so that they can be in a position to provide visitors with a hearty, but safe welcome.

“As part of this process, NHI will continue working to help deliver a responsible balance between economic recovery and public safety.

“We’re also grateful to the First Minister for listening to our calls to review the appropriateness of the two-metre social distancing guidelines in hospitality settings.

“For many businesses it will not be possible to reopen if it is not reduced.

“We need to look at what other countries have done with social distancing by reducing it from two metres to one metre.

“It’s the only way that many tourism and hospitality businesses will be viable.

“One of the key things that makes North Highland communities so unique is that a larger majority of businesses in remote areas like ours are independent, family-run or self-employed, making them an integral part of rural community life and heavily reliant on income from tourism to sustain their livelihoods.

“We believe that the next essential step is for the Scottish Government to adopt more nuanced messaging to ease anxieties across the country – especially in Highlands. 

“The ‘stay home and save lives’ message has been very effective, but for many people, especially those living and working in more remote and rural communities, there is a fear that changing this behaviour may pose a risk to public health and wellbeing.

“Our famous ‘Highland Welcome’ now needs to be quickly rekindled to help secure the future of tourism long term.

“We’re now looking to the Scottish Government and VisitScotland to implement a national and local campaigns to allay anxiety amongst local Highland communities and deliver a positive, uplifting message as we take safe, measured steps to emerge from lockdown.

“As the tourism sector emerges from lockdown, North Highland Initiative will be relaunching our ‘Highland Time’ campaign, with a focus on responsible and sustainable tourism.

“The campaign aims to encourage visitors to spend more time exploring the region by showcasing the wild, rugged and varied landscapes of the North Highlands as ‘the ultimate natural remedy to modern life’.

“We hope to entice visitors to slow down, explore away from the beaten track and focus on wellbeing experiences as part of their travels, such as walking, hiking and swimming, as well as getting a taste for our world-renowned Highland food and drink. 

“‘Highland Time’ also champions the North Highland region as a prime destination for eco-travel, encouraging travellers to be mindful of their environmental impact.”

The North Highland Initiative (NHI) was established in 2005 as a direct result of His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay’s involvement in bringing together the farming community, local businesses and the tourism industry to try to address some of the challenges facing rural communities in the far north of Scotland by creating a powerful regional identity for the area.

As part of the overall objective of the charity, NHI operates across the counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty to assist in making this amazing part of the UK a place where businesses and communities are sustainable.

The three key areas of activity for the NHI are food and farming, tourism, and community support and leadership.

For Scottish Government’s tourism & hospitality sector guidance click here.

For more information on the North Highland Initiative click here.

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