Having been fortunate enough to receive my first vaccination dose for COVID-19 recently I was astounded at the professionalism and efficiency of the entire process. In just seven minutes I had been registered, interviewed, vaccinated and sent on my way. The jab itself didn’t even hurt.
Sadly, it’s not been as seamless or as painless for the events and festivals sector over the past 12 months. Much has been said about how it has been one of the hardest hit and will be one of the last to fully reopen and the regular dialogue between the Event Industry Advisory Group and the Scottish Government has reflected that.
However that one little jab in the arm, and the millions of others that have preceded it and will follow across the country in the coming months, does provide significant ground for optimism. Following the tough winter lockdown beginning to ease, the winding forward of the clocks, sunnier skies and the lighter mornings and evenings will have people pining for the traditional summer events season.
There is no doubt there is a pent-up demand for events to return and, as we’ve recently seen in England, I’d expect tickets to quickly sell out should events be permitted.
But what will the summer look like for events in Scotland? Whilst there is still caution and pragmatism in abundance, the mood music is more positive than it was even a few weeks ago and I sense increasing confidence with each week that passes.
We’ve seen a very positive and significant move with the approval of approximately 12,000 spectators for the UEFA EURO 2020 matches at Hampden in June and this may give an indication of the likelihood for further high-profile events acting as a gateway for the return of the sector.
A quick glance at some potential events for the summer could include the British & Irish Lions Test Match against Japan at Murrayfield; three golf events in the Aberdeen Standard Investment Scottish Open, Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s Open; and a number of Edinburgh Festivals among others. These world-renowned outdoor events could offer some hope for a summer of events with crowds. The confidence shown by DF Concerts in recently confirming TRNSMT Festival for September adds to the potential for positivity.
In addition, the UK Government’s Events Research Programme, which will see spectators permitted at a number of events through April, is an ambitious one and it is pleasing to see that results and data from the programme will be shared across the Four Nations. I’m sure this will prove to be a great tool for Scotland’s events industry as we continue our recovery.
However, despite positivity there is still the recognition of the significant challenges the sector faces and that some events will not be able to take place. Recently we’ve seen organisers of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William unable to commit and it’s possible they won’t be alone. Decisions to continue with event preparation and planning need to be made early with organisers weighing up significant financial risk versus their desire to go ahead.
The prospect of indoor events also needs careful consideration. We’re blessed with many world-class venues including the SEC, EICC and the P&J Live among others. They are eager to once again open their doors utilising the skill and expertise of their staff to do so in a manner that will mitigate COVID risk. The results of the Events Research Programme being conducted in England will provide important evidence in the case for indoor events.
To ensure we have a positive summer for events in Scotland it is now critical that the industry receives additional guidance and information as soon as possible. We know that events cannot viably operate with physical distancing or restricted numbers in place but what does the future hold for required hygiene practices, staggered ingress and egress, face coverings or even a vaccine passport? While concerns still remain for some about the prospect of vaccine passports, there is no doubt they could offer a quicker way back for events.
Following my first vaccination there is no doubt that I am able to look forward with more positivity in anticipation of my second dose and life returning to something more like normal. Similarly, for the events industry the first shot in the arm is a more positive outlook for the return of spectators highlighted by the positive news in relation to the UEFA EURO 2020 matches, but there is still much to do before we’re ready for our second dose ahead of a fully-fledged reopening.
Paul Bush OBE
Director of Events VisitScotland/ EventScotland
Related
![Van_Gogh600x300[1]](https://eventsbase.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Van_Gogh600x3001.png "Tickets now on sale for Beyond Van Gogh in Aberdeen in Summer 2025")
