‘Horror story’ for St Andrews tourism businesses

But with international travel bans in place and people being advised to stay safe at home, tourists are cancelling their bookings and putting plans to visit the town on hold.

With restaurants and cafes being shutting up, and tourists cancelling their bookings to stay in the area, it will be quiet this summer.

In St Andrews, a town where around one in five jobs are linked to tourism, it could have a devastating impact.

That is part of the reason St Andreans are being urged to spend their money locally.

Debbie MacCallum, chair of Tourism St Andrews, which promotes tourism, tourism businesses and events in the town, said its members were being encouraged to do what they could to keep their names in the public eye, but warned that they needed active local public support.

“We need our businesses to survive so that they are in a position to re-open when this challenging situation has alleviated,” Ms MacCallum said.

“People will not travel here until the UK is seen as safe and the global situation caused by Covid-19 has been fully understood and resolutions implemented.

“It’s a horror story for all sectors and tourism especially. The current focus and messages needs to be about how we can support each other during this turbulent time. Shop locally, support your local groups and look to next year.”

While Ms MacCallum warned that there will be potentially “little tourism business this year”, she said the tourism trade in the town could return next year as hopefully thousands of golf fans will descend on the town in 2021 when St Andrews welcomes back The Open.

“The Open could be the catalyst for regenerating the area,” Ms MacCallum said. “It will result in golfing fans flying to Scotland to enjoy the sport and they will obviously spend while here. It will be amazing timing for the tourism sector. We need The Open next year! And typically we get a big tourism boost the year after The Open which will attract tourists to visit during 2022.”

One thing that does need to be improved, according to Ms MacCallum, is communication and she called on Fife Council and Government to be clearer about what support is available to businesses to support them through the current difficulties and prepare for the road ahead.