Press statement: STA comment on Edinburgh Festivals announcement

The news that Edinburgh’s five August festivals will not go ahead this year is hugely disappointing for all involved with Scotland’s tourism industry and for the many hundreds of businesses in Edinburgh from across all sectors of the economy who look forward to the August programme and enjoy many extended benefits from it.

It is however the right decision to take for many reasons that are well documented but most importantly, protecting the health and well-being of our nation.  From recent conversations I have had with the key stakeholders who are involved in delivering Edinburgh’s festivals, I know that there remains huge ambition, resilience, determination and a will to deliver these world famous events which bring people from across the world and the UK to experience our warm welcome, culture, comedy and spectacle when the time is right.