Major Scottish hotels and attractions face an uncertain future and closure without significant support during harsh travel restrictions, the tourism minister warned.
Fergus Ewing gave his frank verdict on the total loss of visitors and income in swathes of rural Scotland and cities normally reliant on foreign spending.
“The impact of tourism has simply been devastating - there is essentially no tourism in Scotland at the current time," he told MSPs on Holyrood's tourism committee.
Ewing warned: "Businesses that are part of the panoply of Scottish tourism visitor attractions – the Whisky Experience, the Highland Wildlife Park, Edinburgh Zoo, the Royal Yacht Britannia, numerous forest leisure facilities throughout the country – these businesses are really facing the question of survival.
“Because in many cases – particularly those businesses more reliant on international visitors – it’s anticipated that there really won’t be a 2020 season to speak of.
“That’s the worry and if that comes to pass then the financial gap is not a few months, it takes us into next spring, sadly.”
The Scottish Parliament is probing the impact emergency coronavirus restrictions across the economy.
Economy experts at the Fraser of Allander Institute in Glasgow said tourism and hospitality will be hit hard, with people wary to return even when businesses reopen.
Tourism chiefs have already suggested Scotland could be “shut” for summer with travel restrictions different to England.
Ewing said UK Government support has been welcome but criticised the lack of support for businesses with a rateable value of £51,000.
“I do think at a UK level, there should be a recognition that those businesses have fixed costs every month. I do think there’s a disparity there. I have urged Nigel Huddleston, the Tourism Minister in the UK, to urge the Treasury to fill the gap.
“As yet, we have not had a response. To be fair to the UK Government, they have made changes to the furlough scheme – they have been willing to change there, my ask is that they are willing to change here.
“We will see the loss of the most valued hotels in just about every major rural town in Scotland and Britain unnecessarily.”
