First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visits North Berwick

Ms Sturgeon visited the Scottish Seabird Centre on the day Covid-19 restrictions eased in the retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors and people were able to meet up in indoor public spaces for the first time this year.

The First Minister arriving at the Scottish Seabird Centre

The fund would help people on low incomes or who have caring responsibilities to access tourist destinations and enjoy short breaks through a voucher scheme. 

Twelve-month rates relief would also be available for businesses in the tourism sector.

She told the Courier: “It feels like a good day and it feels like a really positive day.

IN PICTURES: The First Minister goes walkabout on North Berwick High Street

“I’m always conscious of the fact that it is tempered with all of the sadness that Covid has inflicted upon us but nevertheless this day has been a long time coming and it has involved a lot of sacrifice and a lot of effort on the part of everybody across Scotland to get us to this point.

“We should enjoy it but continue to be careful because Covid is still out there.

The First Minister at Nisa convenience store on North Berwick High Street

“We have still got to keep it under control and if people take care, do all the right things, follow all the advice and keep the vaccination programme going as well as it is going then I am really optimistic that we are now on the journey back to something that feels much more normal.”

Ms Sturgeon toured the Seabird Centre and then visited some businesses on the town's High Street: North Berwick Newsagent; Nisa convenience store; Rock & Bird arts and crafts store, and home products and cookware store 'etc', where she purchased some hand sanitiser.