It can be hard to keep up with ever-changing legislation and last week was no different as vaccine passports became officially enforceable.
Businesses had a mere two weeks to get up to speed with the scheme with an initial grace period ahead of the legislation, which came into force on Monday, October 18.
The change means everyone over the age of 18 must now prove they’re double vaccinated before gaining entry to certain venues and events.
This will primarily affect hospitality industry venues which are open after midnight and play live music, as well as nightclubs and venues holding large events.
The passport originally launched in paper form, a move which was heckled by many as other UK nations had a digital scheme.
I’m not surprised – in this day and age, waiting for a letter to arrive by post seems a little outdated – a digital equivalent is a heck of a lot faster than snail mail.
Of course, when the app finally launched at the start of October it wasn’t without controversy either, thanks to tech issues.
Many of us were unable to access records through the app which was a PR disaster for the Scottish Government, and it didn’t take long for opposition parties to leap on that.
The fact the app launched just a day before the passport legislation was introduced wasn’t particularly helpful either.
In my opinion, although there was a trial period for businesses to get to grips with the scheme, it wasn’t long enough to allow teething problems to be ironed out and for business to adjust.
Reportedly many venues simply didn’t ask for proof of vaccination because of bugs in the app and social media was awash with complaints.
Thousands of Scots attempted to download the app and simply couldn’t, due to the number of people on the application at the same time – it was chaos.
Why was there not a firmer plan in place and more support for businesses who were coming up against challenges?
Surely someone must have pre-empted that there would be high demand for the app right after its launch.
It’s no wonder many hospitality venues had called for a delay in the legislation, but it went ahead anyway and look what happened.
Another blunder also cast doubts over security when it was revealed some users were able to take screenshots of the QR codes whilst in the app – which could potentially allow unvaccinated people to get around the measure.
There should have been a safeguard which prevented users from taking screenshots, like banking apps have.
On the plus side some swift updates have been made meaning the business app will show a green tick when people’s details are correctly scanned.
To top off all the problems, there was a fresh wave of anger when it was revealed COP26 delegates wouldn’t need to use the vaccine passport system. Critics blasted the decision to give the event a “free pass” and asking if 30,000 people from across the world posed a bigger risk than 400 people in a nightclub.
As we reflect on the mountain of bad publicity the vaccine passports have attracted, lessons need to be learned so we can move forward more effectively, because we can’t afford any more disruption.
Hospitality businesses have been through enough, between lockdown closures and then social distancing reducing capacity.
The festive season is coming and it’s an opportunity for restaurants, hotels and nightclubs to attempt to make up for lost time with Christmas trading.
I hope we have a system that’s running smoothly by then, so it doesn’t undermine economic recovery.
Loch Ness makes a splash on Instagram
Our very own mythical sea monster’s home, Loch Ness, is now the third most ‘Instagrammable’ location in Scotland with 439,736 hashtags, meaning Nessie has had a lot more people to hide from.
It was only beaten to the top two spots by Loch Lomond which had 501,498 hashtags and, in first place, Edinburgh Castle which had 602,806 hashtags.
If you’ve ever been to Ben Nevis, St Kilda or Skye’s Fairy Pools you won’t be surprised to hear they also bagged spots in the top ten.
The study by Heriot-Watt University aims to provide more information about Scotland to recruit potential students.
But even if you’re not planning on enrolling it still has some fascinating insights.
Visitors are spending anything between a few hours and a few weeks enjoying the Scottish hospitality of local villages and are using the popular social media platform to capture the wild, natural beauty of the landscape.
It’s great for Scotland’s tourism industry to see our beautiful nation being visually documented so often.
It’s worth mentioning Loch Ness’s Instagram fame hasn’t made our favourite monster any more shy.
It was only a matter of weeks ago that a wild camper captured the one and only Nessie on some drone footage. That’s her fifth appearance this year, in case you were wondering.
Apparently, there was no driftwood or other plausible explanations, so that’s good enough for me. It’s great to see Nessie making the odd public appearance to help boost tourism.
It Made Me Laugh
Fans of the TV series Succession will be in their element now season three is here – and Hearts supporters will be even happier.
In season two the patriarch’s son bought the football club to try and impress him. The only snag? It turned out Dad, played by Scots actor Brian Cox, supports their bitter rival Hibs.
What a gaffe – and it’s one the real-life team have decided to have a laugh about with help from streaming service NOW.
They joined forces to brand up the Jambos’ strips and Tynecastle Stadium with the fictional company from the series ‘Waystar Royco’.
Apparently, it’s the first time ever a real team has had sponsorship from a fictitious company and the clever stunt certainly got tongues wagging!
It Made Me Weep
Nicking little things from hotels or restaurants might seem funny or harmless but the cost of replacing these items adds up.
People seem to forget it’s still a crime and luxury soaps are particularly in demand, with some business owners admitting they’ve started screwing items down or using lower budget options.
One UK restaurant hit headlines recently after admitting to putting their designer soap in a communal area covered by CCTV cameras.
I’ve read about all sorts of outlandish things being stolen, from curtains and pillows to mattresses and even a grand piano – but while thefts like this are rare, stealing smaller items isn’t.
Spare a thought for the hard-working business owners who contribute so much to our economy before you give into temptation.
