Scottish Government tells tourists: Wish you weren't here!<br /><br />Campaigners gather outside Holyrood in protest of short-term let licensing. Campaigners from Save Self Catering in Scotland will gather outside the Scottish Parliament as First Minister Humza Yousaf sets out his Programme for Government. They will hold a giant postcard and other placards which say “wish you weren’t here” – the message they say the legislation sends to domestic and international tourists with the introduction of short term lets licensing.<br /><br />The Scottish government is sending a message to domestic and international visitors that they are no longer welcome in Scotland. <br /><br /> <br /><br />That is the message campaigners and small tourism business owners from the self-catering sector sent to the First Minister as he prepared to present the Programme for Government. <br /><br /> <br /><br />The group said that unless Humza Yousaf takes urgent action in the days ahead to pause the legislation, thousands of small tourism businesses would leave the industry in a matter of weeks. This will severely affect the availability of affordable holiday options for people in Scotland and those visiting from further afield, the group said. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Gathering outside the Scottish Parliament, members of the Save Self Catering in Scotland group said that the legislation, set to be introduced on 1 October, will ruin their livelihoods and their ability to put food on the table, with some saying they despair about what the future holds for them and their families. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Many said that the debacle has already put many tourists off visiting Scotland. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Save Self-Catering in Scotland is a group of hundreds of people and businesses who are asking the Scottish Government to pause its flawed legislation until amendments can be made to protect law-abiding, responsible small businesses across Scotland. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Scotland’s tourism industry is worth £6bn to the economy, of 5% in total, with one in every 12 jobs depending on it. [1] Cross party MSPs have already urged the First Minister to pause the legislation until a workable scheme can be introduced. <br /><br />
