Scotland’s hospitality, tourism, and cultural sectors are calling for government measures to mitigate the challenges posed by Brexit as they prepare for the “Understanding Brexit” workshop scheduled for 21st October in Glasgow, organised by the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS).
As the UK approaches a general election, there’s a growing sentiment that relations with the EU need reevaluation and EMiS hopes to amplify the concerns of the Scottish tourism, hospitality, and cultural sectors, urging policymakers in London, Brussels, and Edinburgh to take swift action.
With the Scottish economy heavily relying on its hospitality and cultural sectors – the tourism and creative industries contribute an impressive £10 billion annually, and tourism alone sustains over 200,000 jobs, supporting 14,000 businesses – they say that leaving the EU has made life more complex, expensive and challenging for businesses, cultural organisations and individuals, with one in four singers unable to work in Europe post-Brexit.
The aim of the event sponsored by EMiS, Scotland’s leading pro-European campaigning group, is to provide a platform for these sectors to say what they want from governments (particularly Westminster) in areas like EU work permits, employing EU citizens, freedom of movement for Scottish performers, producers and technicians and the Brexit bureaucracy faced by travelers.
The initial list of speakers includes Baillie Annette Christie of Glasgow Life, Leon Thompson from Hospitality UK, Marc Crothall of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, and Katrina Brown from The Common Guild. More speakers are expected to be announced soon.