Arran businesses threatened by ferry cancellations
27 January
Arran businesses are experiencing massive financial losses due to the ongoing ferry cancellations.
Linda Johnston, group director at the Auchrannie Resort, Brodick, confirmed to s1arran that recent reports the hotel had lost at least £10,000 because of cancellations, were true.
She also feared the effect the cancellations were having on the local economy.
She said: “The damage is really to Arran’s future sustainability because people who are disrupted when they travel to a destination are unlikely to come back again.
“Businesses on the island have really been affected.
“This winter has been really windy and wet and the ferries have been more badly affected.
“We put a lot of money into running the hotel but when the ferry doesn’t sail we do get cancellations.
“In these circumstances we would give them another chance to rebook - but people want to book a holiday to a place that they can get to!”
Unfortunately though, rebooking is not always an option, particularly when visitors have planned for one-off events.
One local hotel – who were unable to comment - recently had a whole wedding party cancel on them because their ferry across had been called off.
Linda added: “If a ferry is cancelled, say on a party night or when a bus trip is over, we can lose a lot of money because they can’t come another night.
“It’s the same as Christmas or Hogmanay - dates can’t be changed.
“We do need a more reliable service if our island is going to get anywhere."
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