Highland hoteliers have been subjected to verbal abuse with people claiming they will be to blame if the coronavirus spreads into the far north, it has been claimed.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Gail Ross warned that the Highlands must not lose its welcoming reputation as she described local fears that incomers were bringing the virus.
Appearing remotely in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Ross was speaking in a Scottish Government debate on the next steps for communities grappling with the pandemic.
Ms Ross said it was important to strike the right balance between protecting remote communities and making sure the tourism industry can recover.
The SNP MSP said some constituents were “very worried” by an “influx of people coming to the area possibly bringing the virus with them and spreading it around some very fragile communities with high numbers of elderly people”.
Ms Ross claimed there had been more people travelling to the far north of Scotland in the last couple of weeks.
“I don’t blame them (constituents) for being nervous, at all,” Ms Ross said.
I have heard really worrying reports of hoteliers and hospitality workers being verbally abused, being told they will be to blame if the virus is brought up here. They are feeling quite threatened.”
SNP MSP Gail Ross
But she warned there was a “fine balance” between keeping “our communities safe and becoming unwelcoming in the longer term”.
She added: “I have heard really worrying reports of hoteliers and hospitality workers being verbally abused, being told they will be to blame if the virus is brought up here. They are feeling quite threatened.”
She said tourism businesses in the area had been “devastated by a huge loss of income” and were seeking more details on when they can restart their enterprises.
Before the debate Labour had expressed concern about the distribution of coronavirus grants across the country, claiming the Highlands were benefiting at the expense of more needy areas.
Local Government spokeswoman Sarah Boyack drew attention to the 258 projects supported by the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities fund, questioning how the cash had been allocated.
She said: Highland Council received 14 per cent of the entire fund accounting for £1.4m despite South Lanarkshire Council, which has a higher population and higher rates of deprivation, receiving only around £250,000.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell used the debate to announce the establishment of an advisory board to create a more equal Scotland in the post-coronavirus era.
Ms Campbell and Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will be the co-chairwomen. Members will include Emma Ritch of Engender, Jon Sparkes of Crisis, and the Scottish Refugee Council’s Sabir Zazai.