One-off COVID-19 relief funding
VisitScotland has been asked to deliver a one-off £750,000 COVID-19 relief funding award to The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. VisitScotland is the awarding body for this scheme.
Due to the national lockdown and restrictions on movement in 2020, the Royal Highland Show in 2020 was cancelled. The funding is intended to provide financial support following the impact of COVID-19 and to protect the long-term sustainability of the Royal Highland Show.
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland are planning to deliver a behind-closed-doors Showcase event in June 2021, to meet the COVID-19 rules in place at the time. This will provide some continuity for the event in its role as a vehicle of education and cultural promotion of the Scottish rural and agricultural industries. It is an established annual event for many rural and non-rural families with circa 200,000 attending annually including 7,000 school children on organised visits.
The agri-industry relies on the Royal Highland Show to allow businesses to meet the customers and it continues to be one of the key economic transaction points for all agri-businesses. The Showcase will create unique and sustainable opportunities for these commercial activities to continue.