Highland businesses and hospitality traders eye post-Covid future as more Omicron-related restrictions set to be lifted following Scottish Government announcement
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Highland entertainment and business bosses have warmly welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement that the majority of Omicron-related restrictions will be lifted from Monday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that Scotland had “turned the corner on the Omicron wave” and could ease restrictions that many criticised as overreach that dealt a further blow to local businesses.
Key provisions will no longer apply from next week including: limits on attendance at indoor public events; one-metre physical distancing between different groups in indoor public places; the requirement for table service in hospitality premises serving alcohol; and the closure of nightclubs.
She added: "We will also from Monday remove the guidance advising adults against non-professional indoor contact sports, so that these can resume as normal.
"And from Monday, we will also lift the guidance asking people to stick to a three household limit on indoor gatherings.Face coverings must still be worn in public indoor settings and on public transport.
"Businesses and other organisations should continue to have regard to guidance, and take reasonable steps to minimise the spread of Covid.
"And hospitality premises should continue to collect contact details for customers – which is important for the effective operation of Test & Protect.
"In addition, the Covid certification scheme will continue to apply for now to large indoor and outdoor events, and to late night venues - all settings where transmission risks can be higher.”
Eden Court will waste no time in restarting its programme and will welcome the Scottish Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker as well as Kenneth Branagh’s latest film Belfast.
Interim Chief Exec Bryan Beattie said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be safely raising the curtain again at Eden Court and seeing audiences fill the theatre once more.
“We’ll be welcoming Scottish Ballet from next Wednesday with their sumptuous production of The Nutcracker. And the timing couldn’t be better for removing the cinema's social distancing measures, with Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast having already sold hundreds of advance tickets.
“The whole Eden Court team are so passionate about what we do, so it’s brilliant to get back to what we’re best at and start making audiences happy again.”
The Federation of Small Businesses’ Highlands & Islands Development Manager, David Richardson, said: “Highland businesses will be delighted that trading conditions will soon be returning to near normal, that the FSB has been listened to and the threat of vaccine passports has been lifted, and that they can now start planning with more certainty for the year ahead.
“However, this does not mean that all their problems are over and that local economies will quickly bounce back. There’s a lot of work to do to rebuild confidence amongst businesses and consumers.
“In the meantime, many firms hit hard by the Omicron restrictions and facing dire cashflow problems will be wondering what has happened to the promised Scottish Government support. It now looks as though some won’t receive any until well after the restrictions have been lifted, and businesses need reassurance from Ministers that it’s coming.
“One final, very important point. We want the Scottish Government to promise that any underspend in the money that it allocated to supporting businesses through the pandemic is used for this purpose: for helping businesses recover, adapt and grow.”
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