Scottish Government tells tourists: Wish you weren't here!

Scottish Government tells tourists: Wish you weren't here!

Campaigners gather outside Holyrood in protest of short-term let licensing. Campaigners from Save Self Catering in Scotland will gather outside the Scottish Parliament as First Minister Humza Yousaf sets out his Programme for Government. They will hold a giant postcard and other placards which say “wish you weren’t here” – the message they say the legislation sends to domestic and international tourists with the introduction of short term lets licensing.

The Scottish government is sending a message to domestic and international visitors that they are no longer welcome in Scotland.



That is the message campaigners and small tourism business owners from the self-catering sector sent to the First Minister as he prepared to present the Programme for Government.



The group said that unless Humza Yousaf takes urgent action in the days ahead to pause the legislation, thousands of small tourism businesses would leave the industry in a matter of weeks. This will severely affect the availability of affordable holiday options for people in Scotland and those visiting from further afield, the group said.



Gathering outside the Scottish Parliament, members of the Save Self Catering in Scotland group said that the legislation, set to be introduced on 1 October, will ruin their livelihoods and their ability to put food on the table, with some saying they despair about what the future holds for them and their families.



Many said that the debacle has already put many tourists off visiting Scotland.



Save Self-Catering in Scotland is a group of hundreds of people and businesses who are asking the Scottish Government to pause its flawed legislation until amendments can be made to protect law-abiding, responsible small businesses across Scotland.



Scotland’s tourism industry is worth £6bn to the economy, of 5% in total, with one in every 12 jobs depending on it. [1] Cross party MSPs have already urged the First Minister to pause the legislation until a workable scheme can be introduced.