Skye tourist season faces 'wipe out' as bookings plummet

Skye is facing a “wipe out” of its tourist season with a third of businesses reporting they will survive only for the next four weeks given the impact of Coronavirus on island visitor numbers.

The Quiraing on Skye is one of the big visitor draws on the island but there are fears this year's tourist season will be 'wiped out' due to Coronavirus.

Business group SkyeConnect has researched the economic reality of the outbreak on hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, as well as those offering tours and sporting activities.

Of those who responded, a third of businesses said they could only survive for another four weeks without direct government support, the organisation said.

Another third of 140 respondents said they could only survive for the next two to three months.

A spokesman for SkyeConnect said: “As the 2020 season looks set to be wiped out by Coronavirus, Skye businesses are doing everything they can to weather the storm, protect jobs and play their part in saving lives.

“The clear message from the SkyeConnect survey is that the vast majority of businesses need urgent access to money to pay staff and ease cashflow worries.”

Many hotels took the decision to close down ahead of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for such businesses to stop taking bookings in a bid to deter people travelling to remote areas as the Coronavirus crisis deepens.

Anne Gracie-Gunn, owner of Toravaig Hotel, Duisdale Hotel and Skeabost Hotel, said she would normally be taking 95 bookings a day at this time of year.

“We are lucky if we are getting one a day at the moment. We are not opening Toravaig for the foreseeable future until the level of business improves. It if has got to be the whole year, that’s the way it is,” she said.

Hugh Ferris, of Skye Distillery Tours,said his business had been more or less “wiped out” by Coronavirus.

SkyeConnect said it was now essential the Scottish Government quickly made available funds from its £2.2billion emergency support package for businesses, including rates relief and access to grants. It also urged those booked to visit Skye to postpone their trips instead of cancelling outright to avoid businesses having to make multiple refunds at once.