Hotel support fund ‘overwhelmed’

A flagship £14 million fund for Scotland's beleaguered hotel industry has been overwhelmed with applications prompting claims of a "catastrophic miscalculation" about the level of support needed.

Almost 300 establishments have sought assistance through the Scottish Government's Hotel Support Programme - five times as many as the scheme was originally envisioned to help.

The Scottish Government has said it expected to provide support for more than the 60 hotels earmarked for help, but it is not clear if this will meet demand.

The sector has been among the worst hit during the pandemic, with many hotels being forced to close their doors for good after losing out on much of their

Summer season, while widespread travel restrictions have put paid to their Winter season.

The figures have emerged in a Parliamentary question obtained by Labour's deputy leader and finance spokesperson Jackie Baillie.

She said: “The SNP’S catastrophic miscalculation on the level of support needed risks leaving scores of hotels high and dry and puts the jobs of thousands of workers at risk.tourism is pivotal to Scotland’s economy, but the SNP are playing fast and loose with the very future of the industry by providing such limited support. Frankly, the support on offer doesn’t touch the sides. It’s time for SNP ministers to go back to the drawing board and come up with a proper plan to protect our hotel industry.”