First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given provisional dates for phase 3 of releasing the lockdown in Scotland.
This is when tourism businesses can reopen, but VisitScotland’s Lauren Hogg points out that its marketing plan approved by government only allows for the promotion of day and overnight trips to Scottish residents during this period. Day and overnight trips from other parts of the UK are planned in for Phase 4 – “but a lot could happen between now and then!”
Indicative dates for when phase 3 of lockdown easing can be implemented
Part of the Roadmap to recovery and subject to controls on the spread of Covid-19 being met, the plan details those elements that will be able to restart and those that are still being reviewed:
- Travel distance restriction relaxed (currently Scots are advised to stay within 5 miles of their homes) – 3 July
- Self-catering accommodation and second homes (without shared facilities) permitted – 3 July
- Outdoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) – 6 July
- People can meet in extended groups outdoors (with physical distancing) 10 July
- Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two other households (with physical distancing) 10 July
- Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can re-open (following guidance and with physical distancing) 13 July
- All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance) 15 July
- Indoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) 15 July
- Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries – with physical distancing and other measures (e.g.ticketing in advance) 15 July
The following will be subject to further public health advice:
- Live events (outdoors)
- Live events (indoors)
- Other personal retail services
- Other indoor entertainment venues (e.g. nightclubs, bingo, theatres, music venues).
