The travel ban imposed on Greater Manchester by the Scottish Government is having a "real impact" on the region's hospitality sector, Andy Burnham has warned.
The mayor of Greater Manchester is set to hold talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today to discuss the ban on all non-essential travel from Scotland to Manchester and Salford.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Burnham told reporters he was seeking a "political route" out of the dispute, saying: "I anticipate having the opportunity to discuss it with the First Minister tomorrow and obviously we will want clarity on elements of the policy that are currently unclear to us in terms of the criteria that are being used here, the exit strategy, the process for lifting the restrictions on the boroughs affected.
"We just want to seek resolution and a better way of doing things going forward. The political route is the route to pursue. That’s obviously what we would seek to do. To put in place better dialogue, better lines of communication which clearly aren’t there at the moment."
Mr Burnham said his office had received more than 50 emails about the ban and cited one person, due to marry at Gretna Green in early July and tour Scotland on honeymoon, has had to cancel and a family due to visit north of the border to scatter the ashes of a loved one have had to shelve their plans.
The mayor also said one hotel in Greater Manchester had reported the loss of 200 room nights.
He added: "The ban has had a real impact on hospitality.
"This has had a real impact on people's lives and businesses.
"This is a big city that wants to get back to normality."
In a tweet Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester's night time economy adviser, said: "Over the last 72hrs, it is now clear how hard the Scottish travel ban to Manchester has impacted hospitality.
"Cancellations are across the board in restaurants, hotels, Air B&B. One city centre hotel has seen 'a circa 200 room cancellation'.
"So much for supporting staycations."
