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Speyside whisky region: Drop in deep-pocketed foreign visitors sparks cry for help

Richard Lochhead MSP. Pictures by JASON HEDGES

Predictions of a domestic tourism boom may compensate for the steep drop in high-spending overseas tourists to Speyside whisky region but Government support is crucial, says Moray’s MSP Richard Lochhead.

Posing for pictures at Craigellachie Bridge in the heart of the country’s whisky region, the region’s long-serving MSP says Covid-19 is likely to deter high-spending overseas tourists.

Moray MSP Richard Lochhead.

They flock in huge numbers to Moray and Speyside’s whisky distilleries, massively boosting the local economy.

He hopes this loss can be partly offset by an increase in domestic tourism, with British residents opting to holiday in the UK instead.

However, he is pressing for talks with Visit Scotland bosses and government tourism ministers to call for a package of support he says is desperately needed to bridge the  gap.

Asked how much he was hoping to secure, he did not supply figures.

However, he said: “What I am saying is I want the tourism agencies and the others to focus on the impact of the pandemic in Moray and Speyside and see what can be done to help.”

It follows earlier concerns raised that Moray could be one of the worst-hit parts of Scotland in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic due to its reliance on the tourism industry.

If forecasting by HIE is spot on, Highlands and Islands recovery is “highly likely” to lag behind the rest of Scotland.

Full recovery, HIE predicts, is not likely until 2023.

And economic scarring and loss of productive capacity might be evident “for years to come”.

Support is needed to soften the blow

Mr Lochhead believes the Moray and Speyside area is particularly exposed.

He says: “The tourism sector is very much the backbone of the local economy, particularly in Speyside.

“Although I am very confident tourism will bounce back in the coming months, we absolutely need any support that can be made available by the authorities to act as a catalyst.

“That’s why I have written to the chief executive of Visit Scotland asking him to give attention to the impacts locally.

“The pandemic and the recent slight delay in Moray going into Level 2 has unsurprisingly had an impact on tourism in Moray and Speyside.”

Mr Lochhead hopes a predicted rise on the number of people staying in the UK this summer instead of going abroad will be a strong mitigating factor, he doubts it will go far enough.

‘Not all doom and gloom’

He adds: “On the one hand, I would expect the area to benefit greatly from staycations but on the other hand many of the high-spending tourists come from overseas and that’s a lot more unpredictable at the moment. Sectors such as whisky-related tourism benefits greatly from foreign visitors.”

Separately, a £3 million Visit Scotland-administered tourism industry support package has been opened by the Scottish Government.

Describing it as “as good start” Mr Lochhead says Moray organisations are exploring how to benefit.

Jo Robinson, Visit Scotland’s regional director for Moray Speyside, said the region received more than £10,000 in the last year and that would continue with the £3 million fund.

He said the body was “very conscious that this has been an extremely difficult and challenging time for Scotland’s tourism industry, and particularly Moray Speyside with the extension of level three restrictions”.

He added: “We are working closely with Visit Moray Speyside, as the industry body for the region, to ensure that visitors are able to discover this area and be inspired to book a visit. This work includes developing businesses and helping them to prepare for and access international sales channels.”