New Covid-19 tourism support fund opens
SAIL Scotland’s determined lobbying of Scottish Government, alongside Wild Scotland, has been successful with additional support funding being made available to the marine and adventure tourism sector.
Both organisations have received high numbers of calls from businesses facing the catastrophic loss of seasonal visitors but falling between the cracks of Scottish and UK Government support for small and medium-sized businesses and the self-employed.
Sail Scotland estimates a huge 95% loss of business across the marine tourism sector this year, due to the industry’s reliance on seasonal visitors, in a year when businesses have been supporting what should be the Year of Scotland’s Coasts and Waters, which will now move from 2020 to 2021.
Scotland has the reputation of a world-class sailing destination. Sail Scotland also warned of the potential impact on remote rural and island communities, many of which rely on the expenditure of outdoor activity visitors.
There are three separate funds. The £45 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund is open to viable but small and medium-sized businesses vital to Scotland’s local, regional or national economies.
The £20 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund is open to small creative, tourism and hospitality companies not in receipt of other business rates relief and related grant support. The £34 million hardship fund is open to the newly self-employed, with grants available to those facing hardship.
The Scottish marine industry stretches across Scotland and plays a vital economic role in many rural areas, including along the Caledonian and Crinan canals.