From 26 April it's expected that the tourism and hospitality industry can begin to reopen. There are, understandably, some pertinent questions you need answers to, and we’ve worked with the Scottish Government team to pull together a list of topical questions and answers.
The Scottish Government has now published updated guidance for the tourism and hospitality sectors (16 April). Many of the standard aspects of the guidance remain the same, such as physical distancing, face coverings, at seat service in hospitality and enhanced hygiene protocols. Safe operating practices continue to be the subject of a risk-based approach, with all premises required to revisit their COVID-19 risk assessments.
Topical questions
Question: What are the changes for tourism on 2 April
Answer: From Friday 2 April, we move from Stay at Home guidance to Stay Local. But what does that mean? Well for tourism and events, there’s not much that changes.
For now, Stay Local retains the current travel restrictions to or from / within Scotland without a reasonable excuse and all holiday accommodation must remain closed to tourism. Stay Local simply means you can travel within your local authority area for a non-essential purpose.
Question: What rules are changing on where you can travel on 16 April?
Answer: From 16 April, you can travel anywhere in Scotland to meet outdoors with family and friends and meet in groups of up to six adults from six households outdoors, with children under 12 excluded from totals.
Question: Can we host more than one household in our self-catering property?
Answer: This will depend on the capacity of the accommodation, and the stage we are at in the coronavirus timetable for easing restrictions.
It's expected that tourist accommodation will reopen on 26 April (self-catering accommodation to be restricted in line with rules on indoor gathering). The prohibition of in-home socialising will apply due to the increased transmissibility of the new variants but will continue to be kept under review at this date.
The rules for self-catering (including overnight stays) are in line with the private dwelling socialising rules as set out in the local protection levels framework.
On 17 May it is hoped that the re-introducing of in-home socialising for up to four people from up to two households will be introduced. However, such easings will be contingent on the scientific data and continued suppression of the virus.
This will mean that single-household restrictions will apply until the in-house socialising rules allow, and tourism and hospitality guidance should be followed with any easings to mitigate risk.
Operators are advised to ensure there is sufficient capacity within their accommodation to safely accommodate the numbers of people and households permitted in the levels framework.
It is advisable for separate households to have their own bedrooms within shared accommodation and that shared bathrooms and kitchens are kept clean and materials and instructions for these are provided.
Visitors should, where practicable, use shared rooms one at a time with cleaning and ventilation in between (e.g. preparing and eating a meal). Where communal toilets are being used providers should implement measures to decrease the risk of contamination, including enhanced cleaning, and consider reducing access to a one in, one out basis. Cleaning materials should be provided for users to ‘clean as they go’.
The approach to reducing household restrictions will be gradual as we move through the levels to ensure continued suppression of the virus. The Scottish Government will keep the guidance around restrictions under review to ensure safety but will not keep them in place longer than is necessary.
Question: When can we welcome multiple households?
Answer: Indicatively, from 17 May – four guests from two households can stay overnight in self-catering (in line with ‘up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a private home or public space’). This is either 4/2 or a single household. If you have a large household (more than 4 people) you can’t add anybody else. The only exception would be if they are in an existing support bubble with the main household. Children 12 years and under not included.
Question: When can I take bookings?
Answer: Tourist accommodation is expected to reopen from 26 April, at which point travel restrictions across Scotland will be lifted. Accommodation is closed to general tourism until then.
Question: What are the socialising rules for hospitality spaces within accommodation premises?
Answer: From 26 April it's expected that up to six people from three different households can meet outdoors and four from two different households within indoor public spaces (social mixing in indoor public places will be subject to maximum of four people from up to two households). The prohibition of in-home socialising will continue to be kept under review at this date.
This is expected to be the same from 17 May with subsequent changes taking place thereafter in June and beyond.
As with previously, operators should ensure booking systems take account of these requirements so bookings for groups exceeding these limits are not made.
Question: What is an extended household?
Answer: An extended household is a support network which joins two households. You can form an extended household with another household of any size if you:
- live by yourself
- are a single parent
- are part of a couple who lives apart – including any children you each live with
Question: When can hospitality open?
Answer: It is expected that outdoor hospitality will open from 26 April with alcohol permitted outdoors (no meal requirement) with premises closed at 10pm (last order times planned accordingly).
Limited indoor hospitality will also be permitted from 26 April for food and non-alcoholic drinks up to 8pm (last order times planned accordingly).
From 17 May it is hoped indoor hospitality can resume alcohol service (with no meal requirement) with 10.30pm closing and two-hour booked time slots to manage dwell times.
There will then be incremental changes across June and July, or when Scotland moves to lower levels of the Strategic Framework i.e. level one closing at 11pm and level zero, back to licensing hours. All measures will be kept under review.
Question: Can hospitality premises serve non-alcoholic drinks indoors from 26 April without a meal?
Answer: Yes, teas, coffees and soft drinks can be served indoors without food within socialising rules until 8pm (last orders planned accordingly) from 26 April.
Question: What are the socialising rules for hospitality?
Answer: From 26 April it is expected that up to six people from six different households can meet outdoors and six from two different households indoors.
From 17 May this is scheduled to be eight people from eight households outdoors and six from three different household indoors.
Numbers will increase again in levels one (approximately June) and level zero (approximately July). As with previously, operators should ensure booking systems take account of these requirements so bookings for groups exceeding these limits are not made. Layout of tables should also ensure physical distancing between groups can be observed.
Question: Does outdoor and indoor service need to be at table / seated only?
Answer: Yes, service must be at table / seated only both indoors and outdoors in the initial stages of reopening.
Operators should consider their systems for how this can be managed i.e. pre-booked slots, arrival point for checking-in and directing customers to tables, ordering systems, whether manual or electronic, and clear customer information on process and required compliance behaviours, such as the need to wear face coverings when using toilet facilities, keeping physically distanced and recording personal details for Test and Protect etc. This is necessary to ensure safe practice while the virus is still a threat to public health and while the vaccination programme is still being rolled out.
Question: Can outdoor customers enter the premises to use toilet facilities?
Answer: Yes, but operators must review their risk assessments to ensure robust protocols are in place to manage any pinch points where people are likely to come into closer contact with one another.
Face coverings when indoors and not seated will also still be required i.e. when visiting toilet facilities.
Question: Can outdoor customers place orders indoors, collect drinks and take outdoors?
Answer: This will not be possible in the early stages of reopening. The policy intention for early stages of reopening is for all parts of both outdoor and indoor service to take place at the allocated table – ordering, consumption and payment. This is to minimise the opportunity for different households to come into contact with one another.
Operators should plan on this basis. If for practical reasons payment is not possible at the table i.e. no terminal signal, then it will be possible for the person paying the bill to go to a payment point to complete the transaction, wearing a face-covering when not seated.
Question: What are the rules specifically for dining in hotels?
Answer: From 26 April, hotel guests will be permitted to stay and dine in hotel restaurants until 10pm. Full room service can be provided.
Question: Will low level background sound be permitted in hospitality, such as background recorded music and sound from TVs?
Answer: Yes, the work carried out by the expert group on low level background sound management in hospitality last year will continue to apply.
Question: Will live entertainment be permitted in hospitality from 26 April?
Answer: No. Live entertainment, such as singers, will return in line with live performances and events guidance. Hospitality guidance will be updated accordingly when these services resume, but this is not expected before 17 May and possibly thereafter.
Question: Will gaming machines be permitted from 26 April?
Answer: As with the previous approach, gaming machines in hospitality will resume in line with corresponding guidance for similar services elsewhere in the economy i.e. amusement arcades. This is not expected until 17 May.
Question: Can indoor facilities, such as toilets, be used after 8pm from 26 April while outdoors areas are still open until 10pm?
Answer: Yes, the 8pm closing time indoors relates to service. It is understood indoor areas must remain open after that in order to continue outdoor service until 10pm and allow that to happen safely i.e. for customers to make use of toilet facilities.
Question: Will premises still be required to collect customer contact details for Test and Protect?
Answer: Yes, this will still be a requirement. Premises can make use of the free Protect Scotland App to help them manage this.
Question: The current guidance online doesn’t reflect the announcement on 16 March for easing of restrictions – is this now out of date?
Answer: Guidance that will take effect from 26 April is currently being finalised and is hoped will be available from around mid-April.
The guidance currently online reflects the current regulations, which for the most part of tourism and hospitality means facilities are closed in level four.
Much of the material relating to assessing risk and workforce issues will remain the same however, so operators can start to review their risk assessments on key issues around physical distancing and hygiene protocols in preparation for checking against any additional requirements when updated guidance is published.
Question: Will there be changes to physical distancing?
Answer: It is hoped that guidance will be finalised and available by mid-April to allow time to absorb and plan for any changes in advance of reopening.
Many of the standard aspects of the current guidance will remain the same, such as physical distancing, face coverings, at seat service in hospitality and enhanced hygiene protocols.
Question: How can sector groups influence guidance?
Answer: Guidance is designed to provide clarity to operators, employees, and the public on application of the regulations rather than how policy is decided.
If there are questions on clarity then these can be directed to your trade representatives who will engage with their Scottish Government contacts.
Question: What rules are changing on where you can travel on 16 April?
Answer: From 16 April, you can travel anywhere in Scotland to meet outdoors with family and friends and meet in groups of up to six adults from six households outdoors, with children under 12 excluded from totals.
From 26 April, the entirety of Scotland including the islands will be moved into level three restrictions. This ensures an easement of travel restrictions from the mainland to the islands. Travel restrictions to England and Wales are also to be lifted on 26 April, with the Scottish Government awaiting confirmation from Northern Ireland and parts of the Common Travel Area to finalise plans for this date.
Question: Can those who live in Scotland travel anywhere in Scotland and stay in hotel / accommodation for recreational purposes from 26 April?
Answer: Yes. Travel across all of Scotland to stay in hotel / accommodation for recreational purposes is expected to be permitted from 26 April (subject to other restrictions that remain in place such as household restrictions).
Question: Is it possible for people to travel to and from Scotland from other parts of UK and stay in hotels for recreational purposes from 26 April?
Answer: Non-essential travel between Scotland, England and Wales will be permitted, and tourist accommodation in Scotland can reopen subject to socialising rules from 26 April.
Question: When will international travel be able to resume?
Answer: This is still to be confirmed. Governments across the UK are working together to determine the right approach for international travel and further updates will be provided in due course.
Question: As a tour guide, when can I promote and accept bookings?
Answer: Bookings from 26 April can be accepted, subject to protocols being in place to ensure socialising rules and physical distancing can be properly observed and managed.
Question: Once restrictions lift on 26 April, are we restricted to six people from three households on a tour or can we take more?
Answer: Tour guides should review their risk assessment to determine how socialising and physical distancing rules can be observed at each level.
As with last year, it is possible to take bookings from separate independent groups within the socialising limits but not to take single bookings from large groups that clearly exceed the limits i.e. three separate bookings of small groups within the limits that can be physically distanced from one another but not a single booking of a large group of friends who will be known to one another and therefore more likely to want to interact with each other.
Question: Is there a limit on guests?
Answer: If outdoors individual group bookings should not exceed six from three different households, and indoors four from two households, but these may be permitted within clusters of bookings up to a safe maximum number.
Your risk assessment should indicate what a safe number should be where socialising rules and physical distancing can be observed, but in the current climate this would be expected to be below normal functioning levels. Operations should still look and feel different. Guidance is being updated and will be published as soon as possible in advance of restart.
Question: When can visitor attractions open?
Answer: Visitor attractions are expected to open from 26 April, subject to socialising and physical distancing rules, and risk assessed COVID-19-safe protocols.
Question: While museums and galleries are mentioned being allowed to open from 26 April, what about other types of visitor centres?
Answer: Mainstream visitor attractions are expected to open on 26 April. Facilities like funfairs and soft play areas are not classified as visitor attractions for the purpose of the 26 April opening and are subject to separate guidance which will support level one sectors, approximately June opening.
Question: When can I promote and accept bookings?
Answer: Bookings from 26 April can be accepted, subject to protocols being in place to ensure socialising rules and physical distancing can be properly observed and managed.
Question: Once restrictions lift on 26 April, are we restricted to bookings from six people from three households or can we take more?
Answer: Coach tour businesses can accept bookings from separate independent groups within the current socialising rules for indoor and outdoor public spaces and should review their risk assessment to determine how socialising and physical distancing rules can be observed at each level. Your risk assessment should indicate what a safe number should be where socialising rules and physical distancing can be observed, but in the current climate this would be expected to be below normal functioning levels. Operations should still look and feel different. Guidance is being updated and will be published as soon as possible in advance of restart.
As with last year, it is possible to take bookings from separate independent groups within the socialising limits but not to take single bookings from large groups that clearly exceed the limits i.e. three separate bookings of small groups within the limits that can be physically distanced from one another but not a single booking of a large group of friends who will be known to one another and therefore more likely to want to interact with each other.
Question: As part of the tour can we visit restaurants, visitor attractions etc?
Answer: Tours are permitted to stop off to visit attractions, have lunch etc but must adhere to the guidance in place for the hospitality sector when doing so.