The First Minister has announced that self-catering accommodation with no shared spaces can open again on the 3rd July, coinciding with the 5 mile travel restriction being lifted. Fiona Campbell, the chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said:

“We are delighted that self-catering can welcome guests again from 3 July, this news is fantastic and nothing short of a lifeline for our £723 million sector and for the many individuals and families who rely on it to support themselves. Scotland’s self-caterers were among the first to close our businesses as we entered lockdown, at great personal and financial cost, and now we’re poised to be among the first to help the Scottish tourist economy stand back up on its own two feet.”

Ms. Campbell continued "Our association has been working closely with the Scottish Government throughout this process and we are delighted that Ministers have listened to us. With our stringent, robust, and comprehensive cleaning protocols in place, which are backed by the Scottish Government, we can safely and securely open our properties and go back to providing our guests with first class breaks”.

The tourism sector as a whole is expected to reopen on the 15th July, however the easing of lockdown is dependent on the continued suppression of the virus, and Nicola Sturgeon warned that if there is a risk of resurgence, the path out of lockdown may be halted or even reversed.

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