Scottish Conservative Shadow Rural Economy and Tourism Spokesman Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “While I’m pleased that the SNP Government has finally responded to the intense lobbying from the tourism sector and the Scottish Conservatives and withdrawn their damaging plans, I’m disappointed they’re only kicking this issue down the road until after the election."
“Our tourism businesses have been devastated by the pandemic and the last thing they needed is to be burdened by more regulations. Our small business owners are the lifeblood of Scotland’s economy and need to be supported by SNP Ministers rather than vilified. Our tourism industry needs to rebuild, rather than be strangled by red tape."
“Threatening to bring back these regulations in a matter of months fails to give the guarantees tourism businesses across rural Scotland have been crying out for in order to allow them to prosper going forward."
“The tourism sector is of enormous importance to the economy of the Highlands and Islands and I, along with my Scottish Conservative colleagues, will vigorously oppose any attempt by the SNP to resurrect the regulations after the election.”