Loch Lomond’s tourism industry is gearing up to welcome visitors again as the lockdown restrictions are eased further tomorrow (Wednesday).
Bookings are coming in for bed and breakfasts, pubs and restaurants across the area, which will all be allowed to open indoor areas.
It is a welcome relief for many who have seen their finances take a plunge – with one B&B in Balloch being forced to make 75 cancellations when lockdown hit.
In April, it was feared businesses in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park could take a £200million hit because of Covid-19 restrictions.
The survey, carried out by the Community Partnership within the first few weeks of the lockdown period, gathered views from 170 small businesses operating within the 20 community councils areas across the national park.
Meanwhile, visitor facilities around the national park, including car parks and toilets, started to reopen at the beginning of the month.
Speaking this week, some tourism businesses told us they were feeling optimistic and trying to stay positive in the hope normality will return.
Breakfast in bed, ditching room magazines and regular deep cleaning are among the measures being introduced at some of the area’s guest houses to comply with government guidance.
Some businesses have used the time in lockdown to make major refurbishments to their properties ready for reopening.
Gordon and Elaine Strang run The Clachan in Drymen’s village square and have been busy redecorating the pub, restaurant and hotel.
Gordon, who has run the business since 2016, told the Lennox Herald he is “100 percent” confident the local tourism industry will soon bounce back.
He said: “The industry is something we should be proud of in Scotland and we have such a good reputation for tourism across the world.
“The majority of establishments offer a great experience and we will see tourists from England and further when the flights start coming in.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming guests and bringing our staff back. We have eight chefs who have been busy doing cook-offs and creating new dishes for the menu.
“We closed on March 20 and within that time, we completely refurbished the toilets and repainted the outside of the building.
“We also replanted shrubbery, added additional kitchen equipment and did a major deep clean so we have kept ourselves busy.
“With being such a hub in the village, it’s important we do our best to get it right. We’re really pleased with the changes we’ve made and we think everyone else will be too.”
Gordon also praised the UK Government in their support for businesses, adding: “My biggest concern was being able to pay staff and we are extremely grateful for the furlough scheme.
“It means we are able to welcome them all back on Wednesday.”
In a move to support the tourism and hospitality sectors, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak last week also slashed VAT from 20 percent to just five percent.
The change comes into effect on July 15 and is aimed at protecting millions of jobs in the industry, which has been hard hit by the lockdown.
He said he would combine it with a 50 percent discount on eating out in restaurants and cafes as part of an ‘Eat Out, Help Out’, discount subsidised by the Treasury.
Lesley McLellan, who runs Sheildaig Farm bed and breakfast in Balloch, has also been busy preparing to reopen and is looking forward to welcoming guests after a long four months.
She has received a number of bookings in recent weeks but said she feels there is a lot of people who are nervous, with many cancellations already.
Lesley said: “We’ve had a lot of bookings starting to come in the last couple of weeks but many of them have now cancelled.
“We’re not quite sure why but I think there’s many people who are feeling nervous about travelling but we’re hoping as things get up and running, that will ease.
“We had to cancel 75 bookings when the lockdown was announced and many of them haven’t rebooked. We make our income during the summer months so we have lost a lot but we are trying to roll with it and keep optimistic.
“Financially, it’s been horrendous. I feel hopeful though and think we will bounce back as long as there isn’t a second wave because I don’t know if we would survive another lockdown.”
Lesley has been preparing the picturesque converted farmhouse on Upper Stoneymollan Road to ensure the business complies with government guidance. She continued: “We will be serving guests their breakfasts in their rooms and removing all magazines.
“We will also be providing them with information before they arrive as our guidelines are different to those in England. The rooms all have their own entrances and we have three outdoor seating areas so there will be plenty of space.
“It’s great that indoor restaurants and pubs will also be reopening on the 15th, so there will be plenty of places for guests to get and something to eat.”
