Yes, we have given thought to that. Obviously, as tourism minister, I am absolutely keen to have the restrictions lifted, but only once it is safe to do so. We should and must use this time to prepare the way for the lifting of restrictions, and we are doing that. That work involves many people. STERG, which is chaired by VisitScotland, is doing good work, as is the Scottish Tourism Alliance.
Many individual organisations, such as the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, wild tourism organisations and various visitor attractions, are also working hard. They are analysing how their businesses could be run differently and considering how to run tourism attractions in a way that keeps people safe. That is the intellectual challenge. Every organisation is working to have recovery plans that are ready to be put into action when it is safe so to do.
There are a number of objectives in that task, but you have absolutely identified the key one, which is to reassure the public about safety. As you say, at the moment, in many parts of rural Scotland, people are very worried about an influx of visitors. From listening to the evidence from the First Minister, the interim chief medical officer and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, people feel that now is not the time to lift restrictions and that the “Stay at home” message is correct and should be observed, subject to the recognised permissions that have been agreed for exercise, shopping and other necessary things of that nature.
It is absolutely essential that we use the current time to build up a basis for how businesses will react, ensuring that public safety is the priority. After all, what is the tourism sector for? It exists to give people an enjoyable time away from their working life, whatever it is, on a vacation with their family. People want to be happy and safe; they do not want stress or to be worried, but nor do they want the people whom they encounter in the place that they visit to feel uncomfortable.
The recovery plans are absolutely essential, and I am spending quite a lot of time discussing some of the details of them. The overwhelming majority of businesses, from hotels and caravan parks to visitor attractions and coach operators, are taking the issue seriously. They are responsible and reputable, and their work is absolutely essential.
There are some specific issues. We might require to respond to the needs of business more flexibly. For example, caravan and holiday home parks have restricted licences when it comes to the on-trade. If it is safe—and only then—to resume the operation of licensed premises, local authorities might be keen to flex the restrictions on those licences. In turn, that would require a bit of pre-preparation. I mention that as a specific example of how, working together in Scotland as a team, we can keep the restrictions now but work and prepare for the recovery.
I am sorry for the length of my answer, but these are such crucial issues. Even in the unlikely event of aviation as we knew it resuming soon—or even by next spring—I think that staycations will be extremely popular. Many people who are cooped up in flats will obviously want to enjoy a holiday as soon as they possibly can. We have to consider and manage the foreseeable scenario in which the road beside east Loch Lomond from Drymen to Ben Lomond is jam packed on the first weekend after the restrictions are lifted, given that everybody will go to the most popular areas. We have to think about that and other such practical issues, such as the provision of public toilets and other services. We need to plan in advance for all those things so that, when the restrictions are lifted, we can enjoy a staycation in Scotland.