Blackpool says it is 'Covid safe' as Scots urged not to travel here

Claire Smith said businesses in Blackpool had worked hard to ensure visitors were Covid safe.

Blackpool Council also stressed “stringent Covid secure measures” were in place and no outbreaks of the virus had been experienced in the town’s tourism businesses.

The Scottish First Minister issued her guidance after saying at least 180 people in Scotland who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last month reported a recent trip to Blackpool.

At a Scottish government briefing she advised Scots against travelling to high-risk areas of England and singled out Blackpool as “associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland”.

The briefing was told 342 people who were contacted by Test and Protect in the past week after contracting coronavirus reported travel outside of Scotland, 252 to somewhere else in the UK and 94 to Blackpool.

An incident management team has been set up to deal with those who have travelled between Blackpool and Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon added: “If you were thinking about going to Blackpool and haven’t booked yet then please do not go this year.”

She also warned Celtic and Rangers fans not travel to the resort to watch the rivals’ match in pubs on Saturday.

But Ms Smith, president of StayBlackpool, said hoteliers were providing safe environments for their guests.

She said: “It’s demoralising when so many people have worked so hard to make their product safe.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth when a town is mentioned so specifically.

“Scottish business is absolutely critical to the town’s success.”

She said she believed “staying in a hotel is probably safer than going to someone’s home. All StayBlackpool hoteliers know all the guidelines and it’s routine.

“It could be the case Scottish visitors are bringing the virus here and then taking it back.”

Out of its 18 million annual visitors, Blackpool attracts around one million Scottish visitors each year.

A council spokesperson said: “We get 18 million visitors a year to Blackpool and have not seen outbreaks in the rest of the UK from visitors to Blackpool, nor are we experiencing outbreaks within our tourism businesses.”

They added: “Blackpool has stringent Covid secure measures in place.

“The council visits its hotels, venues and attractions on a regular basis to ensure all are Covid compliant.

“Blackpool was one of the first places in the country to establish a team of 60 Covid stewards.

“Their job is to ensure people are socially distancing, wearing face masks, alleviating pinch points in queues and advising and supporting the public and businesses.”

The rate of Covid 19 in Blackpool is currently 218 per 100,000 which is one the lowest in the North West of England, and is also lower than parts of Scotland.

The council added: “As mentioned by the First Minister, evidence suggests that many of these current cases are linked to coach parties and coach travel.

“We are asking everyone not to travel when they are symptomatic and to avoid public transport if they can.

“We are also reminding everyone when visiting Blackpool, people should only be coming with those they live with. Households should not be mixing at all when in Blackpool.

“Evidence across the country suggests that the virus is spreading most quickly within social groups, which is why it is essential that people act in a Covid secure way when they are here.”

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