Prospect of Covid passport expansion in Scotland ‘extremely alarming'

The prospect of Covid passports being expanded further in Scotland will be "extremely alarming" to hospitality businesses, according to trade representatives.

Speaking at Holyrood yesterday (10 November), deputy first minister John Swinney said: "We have been considering whether we may need to extend the Covid certification scheme to bring more sectors into scope, such as indoor hospitality and leisure settings."

The next review of the restrictions is due to take place on 16 November.

UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson said: "This news will be extremely alarming to hospitality businesses welcoming customers to their Covid safe venues. The imposition of vaccine passports on businesses operating in the night-time economy has had a catastrophic impact on their ability to trade. Many have removed themselves from scope by closing early, whilst nightclubs report falling attendance as people stay away or are refused entry due to lack of certification.

"Scottish government ministers must meet urgently with hospitality representatives to share their evidence for any such move. The extension of this poorly conceived and badly executed policy has the potential to destroy many businesses that are already struggling, having been subjected to more than 18 months of closure and restricted opening."

Stephen Montgomery, group spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group, added: "We expect the Scottish government to work constructively, intensively, and with proper consultation with our industry should there be an extension of vaccine passports to all indoor hospitality venues. We would hope that this would include discussion of appropriate government support for additional staffing and costs, with many businesses in the hospitality sector currently struggling to cope with the financial burden of the pandemic as well as an acute recruitment crisis."

A survey of members of the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) in Scotland found that nightclub trade levels had dropped by almost half (46%) following the introduction of Covid passports, representing lost income of around £506,000 per year per venue, with some reporting declines of more than 60% compared to previous weeks.

In addition, venues enforcing the scheme reported their expenses to administer the scheme such as staffing and equipment would result in £31,200 per year of additional costs.

Trade in pubs and bars dropped by one quarter (24%), despite 90% of these venues implementing measures to take themselves out of remit of the scheme such as decommissioning dancefloors, reducing opening hours or cancelling live entertainment, all at significant financial loss.

Photo: Shutterstock / Daniel Calvert