The Galloway chairman of the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance is urging VisitScotland to give the hard-pressed sector a marketing boost.
Duncan McConchie wants the national tourism agency to better promote the country globally as the best place to get married – bar none.
The move follows an SWIA survey which showed 60 per cent of the industry reporting a decline in bookings over the critical post-Christmas period.
A big drop in the size of weddings parties is also adding to the sector’s woes.
SWIA co-founder Mr McConchie told the News: “We are now looking for Visit Scotland to promote Scotland more as a year-round wedding destination.
“We would like them to create a portal for the entire wedding industry in Scotland so couples from the USA and elsewhere will think ‘look at all these amazing places’. Visit Scotland would sell the idea of how amazing Scotland is as a wedding destination and bring the people in.
“After that it’s up to us as a wedding industry to bring their dreams to reality.”
Mr McConchie, who runs GG’s Yard at Laggan near Gatehouse with wife Vicki, said the venue is “really busy” but post-Covid uncertainty and differing restrictions north and south of the border are having an impact.
He said: “We can’t do much about the rest of this year because couples tend to book 18 months in advance.
“We are really busy but where normally bookings would be for 110 new inquiries now are for 60 and 70. It’s an industry-wide phenomenon and it’s having a knock-on effect on the supply chain.
“In our survey in February, 60 per cent of the industry said through the key booking period from December to February inquiries were lower than we would normally get.
“Covid restrictions have been tougher than in England for eight months.
“That must have a knock on effect on our success in keeping business in Scotland and bringing in business from England.
“There have been no legal Covid restrictions at all in England since February when all self-isolation requirements were dropped.
“Here you still have to self-isolate for seven days – and if you don’t test negative on days five and six you are stuck for ten.
“In England you have a choice to self-isolate – in Scotland you don’t.”
Mr McConchie added: “If you get Covid you can’t do what you want in Scotland.
“And up until three weeks ago there was a legal obligation to wear masks at wedding ceremonies.
“Also, couples can’t find insurance for their weddings because of Covid self-isolation rules.”
A VisitScotland spokesperson said: “VisitScotland’s global website www.visitscotland.com acts as a portal to connect potential visitors with tourism businesses in Scotland.
“The website has several pages dedicated to weddings and wedding venues in Scotland.
“Scottish tourism businesses can also sign up for a free listing to appear on this website, which attracts 23 million visits per year and generates three million business referrals.
“We are currently liaising with the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance to understand their needs and discuss how we can support the group going forward.”
