Self catering holiday cottages

Allow travel to self catering accommodation within Scotland (unlimited distance). No need to interact with others outside accommodation and with clear instructions on preparation for travel and social distancing this helps the tourist industry without posing a threat to others in the area.

Why the contribution is important

This is one way of keeping the tourist industry going, also beneficial to mental health to allow people to travel/ holiday if social distancing is adhered to.

by JFCB82 on May 05, 2020 at 03:49PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.8
Based on: 37 votes

Comments

  • Posted by raeraegat May 05, 2020 at 15:56

    People travelling to holiday cottages Scotland could not be policed on staying in one place. Here in the East Neuk of Fife there are a number of holiday houses and second homes. We have not been hit as hard as most areas in terms of coronavirus and an influx of holiday makers would cause a rise in coronavirus in an area with a large raging population.

  • Posted by trixie May 05, 2020 at 16:02

    I don’t think this is a good idea. More rural communities don’t have the hospital facilities to cope with an increase of visitors and we don’t want potential spreaders. What kind of holiday is it anyway if everything is closed.

  • Posted by Cowden May 05, 2020 at 16:06

    no need to travel about the country at this time

  • Posted by KirstyCraig May 05, 2020 at 16:08

    This is a crucial industry, however with all industries the thinking needs to be wider than just the individual holiday accommodation. The provider may well say they are following distancing and cleaning schedules but the holiday maker needs to travel there - increasing the risk of accidents on the road, using pressurised resources. Will people travel to visit and stay somewhere there is nothing to do if the rest of the industries around (shops, visitor attractions etc) have not re-opened? It's not just about one venue - things have to be considered holistically.

  • Posted by FGhighland May 05, 2020 at 16:08

    The tourist industry is key in the Highlands, perhaps more so than the more affluent holiday destinations within closer reach of the central belt. Once at a holiday home, social distancing is perfectly possible with little or no additional risk to locals, assuming social distancing is maintained.

  • Posted by PortyBelly May 05, 2020 at 16:29

    I think restarting this is important part of our critical tourist industry should be allowed before main summer season with certain provisions:
    eg
    No bookings with travellers from outside geographical area (30 miles?) to reduce increased demands on local services)
    No bed sharing except within family bubbles
    Short stays only to reduce need to shop in locality
    Enhanced cleaning and no contact between owners / managers and guests
    Minimum 3 days between guest departure and arrival to ensure safety of cleaners and guests

    This industry has apparently fallen between the gaps in available support so allowing it to restart when infections have dropped further and with conditions would avoid loss of many businesses, especially in rural areas and, managed properly, with minimal risk of increased infections.

  • Posted by AKD May 05, 2020 at 16:38

    I think holiday cottages need to be opened for rent, but not now. The government however need to indicate when they will be. It should be possible now with more than 6 weeks of data and the 5 tests for coming out of the lockdown set. I am hoping that this will happen from July onwards.

  • Posted by MrsC May 05, 2020 at 16:48

    This will be difficult to monitor and would risk taking the virus into rural communities which may have a high vulnerable population and limited medical facilities to deal with an outbreak.

  • Posted by borderview May 06, 2020 at 13:06

    It is vital for the rural economy that self catering re opens soon. It is possible in many situations to set up social distancing, keyless entry systems and plenty of space around each property. Three to four days either side of each booking, cleaning plus disinfecting put in place, for protection of staff and guests. Travel distance could be up to 3 hours so not really far from own area if they need to return home but many rural areas have excellent hospital facilities. Short breaks of 3 days, maximum of one week.

  • Posted by RobertDG May 06, 2020 at 17:21

    We provide self-catering accommodation in rural Dumfries and Galloway. We have had frequent calls from guests over the last few weeks and know that they are keen to come and enjoy our properties.

    The isolated nature of our properties, like many others in the area, makes them idea for guests to stay and enjoy our wonderful countryside in safety.

    Of course we will follow all the relevant advice and offer the relevant certifications to our team to ensure the safety of our guests and the wider community.

  • Posted by BCW May 06, 2020 at 18:55

    I own a self catering property, but would rather the government helped financially than expected owners to open up properties during the social distancing requirements. If guests are coming to the properties and not going out at all, not buying goods from our shops or visiting local attractions, they are not helping the larger community, the only benefit is to the property owners. If they are buying in the local shops, they will be increasing the queues, possibly infecting people and possibly needing local medical assistance. It would make a lot more sense if the government said no to all tourism this year and helped financially. We have no way of monitoring where guests are coming from, they could be from 30 miles away or from London or even abroad. If we have to deep clean between each change over, I see some people have mentioned three days in the comments, possibly due to the life of the virus, this will mean we have less possible days of income. Tourism should be mothballed but it needs to be communicated early so that some planning and savings can be made.

  • Posted by wendyjardine May 07, 2020 at 14:57

    I think this is doable as long as guests bring their own supplies so they are not going to shops. Motorhome and caravan users who are self contained and don’t need to use facilities could holiday with no risk of transmission in this way too.

  • Posted by golfmadnutter May 09, 2020 at 12:46

    As an owner I think it would need at least a week between bookings to allow for 3 days for any virus on surfaces to die to protect the cleaners, maintenance persons and owners then 24 hours to clean/maintain it/ then another 3 days for any possible virus left by the team to die before safely letting to guests. Toddlers touch every surface, curtains, cushions, rugs... how can these be deep cleaned successfully in 6 hours. Of course if you own a hot tub then that opens a whole can of worms as how can you safely maintain it? Let alone allowing groups to sit in it and all their bodily secretions mingling.
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