Sail Scotland Business  Survey May 2021

The impact of restrictions on Tourism in Scotland

On the charter sailing, cruise holiday and marina/moorings and boatyard Sector.

Headlines

1. Charter and Sailing Schools (including small motor vessel cruise holidays) have been the hardest hit (red).

3. Group sizing, physical distancing and lack of clarity from Scottish Government are the biggest challenges faced by the sector.
4. 47% say they are trading at unviable levels with 80% of charter of cruise holiday providers trading at unviable levels.

51 (30) respondents across: marinas, Boatyards, Moorings, Charter and Sailing Schools.

• 35% (53%) businesses say they are open but remain unviable with 12% (20%) remaining closed under forced closure.
• The main restrictions affecting the businesses’ ability to trade remain as:
• Physical Distancing. 32% (53%) of the sector are crippled by physical distancing restriction with a further 28% (25%) severely restricted making a total of 60% (78%) of the sector being severely restricted by physical distancing restriction
• Group Sizes. 15% (24%) of the sector are crippled by group size restrictions with a further 49% (59%) or severely restricted making a total of 60% (83%) of the sector being severely by group sizing restrictions.
• Clarity from Scottish Government: 38% (63%) are crippled by lack of clarity by Scottish Government with a further 24% (23%) severely restricted making a total of 62% (86%) being severely impacted or crippled by lack of clarity by the Scottish Government.
• 83% (80%) of businesses have been impacted financially negative with 80% (90%) having a reduced turnover.
• 47% (80%) are closed, cannot trade viably or are trading at a loss
• 22% (30%) of businesses have had to let staff go.
• 31% (47%) say they are unviable in the long term
• 79% of the sector are concerned about their viability if restrictions persist
• 76% (70%) anticipate less than 60% of expected turnover in 2021.
• 55% (73%) see new/additional funding as the highest priority with 57% (63%) seeing timely and communications from the Scottish Government as a high priority.
• 25 % (17%) of the sector are now thinking about seeking advice for debt or insolvency
• In relation to mental health only 11% (32%) report suffering from mental health problems before COVID-19. 32% say they have experienced new mental health issues with 62% (61%) saying they have experienced some mild anxiety / depression symptoms.