COVID-19 UPDATES for Wildlife, Adventure and Activity Operators in Scotland

Please see the latest Guidance here

Sign up here to receive regular news and advice during COVID-19

  • Adventure Operators Sign up here
  • DMOs, Industry and Sector groups sign up here

Latest Government Update

First Minister Statement 13th July 2021

 

The First Minister has confirmed to Parliament that all parts of Scotland not currently there will move to level 0 on Monday 19 July.  Although there have been modifications made to the original indicative plans as a result of the challenges posed by the Delta variant.

The modifications include:

  • All hospitality required to close at midnight (From 00.01 on Monday 19 July, hospitality settings can open till midnight, where their licence allows, and customers no longer be required to pre-book a two-hour slots.  However, customers will still be required to provide contact details to assist Test & Protect and to wear face coverings except when seated).
  • The limit on outdoor group gatherings of 15 people from 15 households will remain in place.
  • No physical distancing is required within groups of 15, but will be required between groups of 15. The economy secretary will work with the events industry to explore how events already organised might still go ahead with modifications.
  • Gradual return to the office delayed for at least 3 weeks (9th August) and employees still asked to work from home where possible.

Further information on what Level 0 means for all sectors is available here and the First Minister’s full speech can be found here.

In addition, from 04:00 Monday 19 July, fully vaccinated travellers and children arriving into Scotland from Amber List countries will no longer be required to self-isolate and take a day eight test. Adults and children over 12 will still take tests before travelling and on day two after arrival. Anyone testing positive for or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will still require to isolate for 10 days.

The First Minister will provide a further update to Parliament in the week before the next review date on 9 August but the intention is to move beyond level 0 on the 9th August. 

  • The FM highlighted and indicated that beyond Level 0:
    • Close contacts will not have to self isolate so long as they are double vaccinated more than two weeks ago and take a PCR tes

 

Some measures are expected to continue beyond Level 0 including:

  • good hand hygiene and surface cleaning
  • continued promotion of good ventilation
  • a requirement for face coverings in certain settings (e.g. public transport and retail)
  • continued compliance with Test and Protect, including self-isolation when necessary
  • an ongoing need for outbreak management capability, including active surveillance
  • a greater degree of working from home than pre COVID-19 where this is possible and appropriate based on business and employee choice

 

Collection of Customer Data

Updated multi-sector guidance to support customer and visitor data gathering for businesses and other establishments to assist contact tracing as part of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system. Please see the guidance here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/test-protect-multi-sector-guidance-collection-customer-visitor-contact-details-april-2021-update/

  • Key change, data should now be collected from each member of the party not just the lead member.

Tourism and Hospitality Guidance

Guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector, including procedures for staff and customer safety and an operations checklist, has been published ahead of the 26 April reopening. Guidance covering Wedding receptions and funeral wakes is also included.

 

Further updates

Updated guidance on face coverings and face masks has also been published. The guidance includes information on face coverings in the workplace and additional information for businesses or operators carrying out close contact work. In addition, a general advice card for everyone at work has been published and a specific advice card for those working in the waste sector providing guidance for managers and workers is also now available.

 

Useful Links to funding

FIND BUSINESS SUPPORT –  this is the GO TO website for all the information you need regarding coronavirus funding and support.

Funding grants for tourism businesses in Scotland during COVID-19 pandemic including tour operators fund, tour guides fund, events fund and more…

We’re Good to Go Industry Standard

  • The ‘We’re Good to Go’ Scheme, created so businesses across all sectors of the tourism industry in Scotland can demonstrate to the public that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance has been extended.  You can sign up to the scheme here and will benefit from a streamlined application process.
  • VisitBritain has announced that tourism businesses in the UK registered to the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard scheme can now automatically be issued with the international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
    The WTTC stamp enables travellers to recognise destinations around the world which have adopted global standardised protocols – so they can experience ‘Safe Travels.’
    VisitBritain is coordinating the Safe Travels stamp issue in the UK, on behalf of the WTTC, for businesses registered to its ‘We’re Good To Go’ scheme, with those who welcome international visitors particularly encouraged to use the Safe Travels stamp.
    Any business that is signed up to ‘We’re Good To Go’, can now log back into their online ‘We’re Good to Go’ account and download the Safe Travels logo from there.
    For more information, please click here.

Business Support & Events

The Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) wants to help you plan during these uncertain times and has created a scenario planning toolkit to do just that. FIND OUT MORE 

Digital Boost Webinar Series 

Business Gateway Webinars 

Adventure Industry & Tourism Events 2021

 

Support Funding for Marine & Outdoor Tourism Update

  • Applications from this fund have now closed.
  • All successful applicants have now received funding.
  • We continue to lobby for those that have clearly fallen through the cracks and received no funding support.

In response to our appeal to the Scottish Government, the Outdoor and Marine fund was been increased from £2.5 million to £4 million. However, Wild Scotland and Sail Scotland continue to lobby hard on behalf on the sector in recognition that this fund has not been enough and we are looking at further support to ensure survival of businesses as we head towards opening up.

The following has been highlighted and discussions with the Scottish Government are ongoing: 

  • Underfunded grant scheme
  • Inequality of funding support
  • Continued unviable trading for parts of the sector as a result of continued restrictions
  • Catastrophic market failure for the overnight boating sector and critical short season

Other information and Links

Tourism and Hospitality Guidance

Sport and physical activity guidance 

Scotland’s Protection Levels 

Local Protection Levels 

Local advice and measures 

Government Advice and FAQ’s

Guidance for Transport Operators.

Scottish Enterprise Advice and Support 

People Support – Skills Development Scotland 

Business Gateway – digital boost and other useful webinars 

Free Protect Scotland App from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect.  This is now available to download at protect.scot and via the App Store and Google Play.
The free Protect Scotland App is the next step in stopping the spread of coronavirus and complements existing contact tracing measures, helping us to determine contacts that we may have otherwise missed, and allows us to alert people at risk far more quickly so they can steps to reduce the risk of infecting others.

Adventure Travel COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines 

Risk Assessment Templates (HSE)

First Aid Advice for First Responders UK Government 

VisitScotland –coronavirus support and information

Local Advice and measures– Advice and guidance relating to local outbreaks or clusters of coronavirus cases.

Scottish Government- What you can and cannot do

Sail Scotland Guidance for Marine Tourism Sector 

Tourism Recovery recommendations 

Coronavirus support & information | VisitScotland.org COVID Advice Pages

UK Segments during the Covid 19 pandemic (visitscotland.org) UK Market Segments during COVID

 

JOIN Wild Scotland and be part of one collective VOICE for the outdoor tourism sector.

 

 

Previous updates and useful links relating to Covid-19

Please note that advice from the Scottish Government may differ from that of England and Wales.

© 2013 Wild Scotland | Website Design by Hotscot