At the end of last year, the Scottish Government announced that tourism and hospitality businesses across Scotland were to benefit from a £104.3 million Scottish Government package.
This funding will help a number of tourism and events businesses in key sectors who have received little or no support so far.
Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing announced an additional £25 million of funding for VisitScotland schemes to support businesses through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on 11 February 2021.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has also announced an additional £8.5 million for the events sector that will be distributed through the Pivotal Events Businesses Fund and the Events Industry Support Fund 2 as well as targeted support.
We will be administering 13* of the Scottish Government funds and will move our focus from marketing to funding and support for the next three months to ensure that desperately needed help is delivered quickly, to those most in need.
We have moved more than 100 staff from other tasks to get these funding streams organised and process them as quickly as possible.
Funds we’re delivering on behalf of Scottish Government
- Pivotal Event Businesses Fund – closed.
- The Sector Destination Operational & Market Readiness Fund – closed to applications.
- Marine and Outdoor Tourism Restart Fund, which has two strands: marine tourism and outdoor tourism – closed to applications.
- Visitor Attractions Support Fund – closed to applications.
- Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund – closed to applications.
- Event Industry Support Fund – closed to applications.
- The Hostel – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund – applications close at 12pm on Tuesday 2 March 2021.
- Scotland Tour Operators Fund:
- Scotland Inbound Tour Operators - COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund - guidance is currently being reviewed in line with industry feedback and further information on the application process for this funding strand will follow shortly.
- The Scotland Day Tour Operators - COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund - applications open from Thursday 4 March for the Day Tour Operators Fund.
- Scotland’s Tour Guides Fund - guidance available, applications open 3 March.
- Scottish Country Sports Tourism Restart Fund – guidance available, applications open 24 February.
- Campervan and Motorhome Rental Operators fund. Details to follow on VisitScotland.org.
These 13* funds present a clean sheet – so those who have had COVID-19 related funding before can apply again. A business bank account will not be required – although evidence of running a business will.
* The Outdoor Fund has two strands, as does the Scotland Tour Operators, combined with the other funds that brings the figure to 13.
We are committed to supporting Scotland’s vital tourism and hospitality sectors through the current restrictions so that we have a viable industry ready to trade when the time is right.
This additional £25 million will boost existing funds this financial year and will support the short term response to the Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce recommendations.
All of the funding packages are being delivered with input from the tourism industry and sector groups to ensure we get the right support to the right people.
A thriving tourism and events industry is essential to lead Scotland’s pandemic recovery. It is a force for good by not only providing jobs and economic benefits to every corner of the country, but also bringing benefits to our wellbeing and society.
Should you have any questions, please get in touch on customer.services@visitscotland.com.
We understand how tough things are for the tourism and events industry at the moment and know that the impact of the ongoing pandemic is making business survival increasingly difficult. There is therefore a need to deliver funding as quickly as possible.
We have huge sympathy for businesses across Scotland, and we continue to feed concerns back to the Scottish Government through the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group – which we chair – and the Event Industry Advisory Group in the hope that more support will be made available in the future.
Scottish Government Funds
In addition to the Scottish Governments Strategic Framework Business Fund, there are additional funds to target financial support at those businesses and sectors that are not eligible.
This is a list of these funds - including those being administered by VisitScotland.
These targeted grant schemes open / in progress / closed:
- Support for Bed and Breakfasts Paying Council Tax Grant
- Large Self-Catering Grant.
- Exclusive Use Grant.
- Local Authority Discretionary Fund.
- Events Industry Support Fund. Applications close 5pm Friday 26 February.
- The Seafood Producers Resilience Fund. Applications must be completed and sent by 26 February.
- The Hostel – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund – applications open until 2 March.
- Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund will re-open for applications at 2pm on Tuesday 2 March 2021, and close at 2pm on Tuesday 22 March 2021.
- Scottish Country Sports Tourism Restart Fund – applications open until 5pm on Wednesday 3 March.
- Scotland’s Tour Guides Fund - guidance available, applications open 3 March.
-
Scotland Tour Operators: International Inbound Tour Operators Fund and Day Tour Operators Fund. Applications open 4 March.
-
Coronavirus Scottish Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Project Fund. The deadline for applications is 10 March.
-
Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 16 March.
- Mobile And Home Based Close Contact Services Fund. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 16 March.
-
Coronavirus Resilience and Recovery Fund for Legal Aid. The deadline for applications is 31 March.
-
Campervan and Motorhome Rental Operators fund. Details to follow on VisitScotland.org.
- Travel Agents Fund.
- Brewer Support Fund.
- Indoor Football Centres Fund.
- Ski Centre Support Fund. HIE and SE will proactively contact each centre that is eligible.
- Wedding Sector Support Fund - fund has now closed.
- Event Industry Support Fund - fund has now closed.
- Travelling Show People Support Fund - fund has now closed.
- Sector and Destination Operational and Market Readiness Fund - fund has now closed.
- Museums Recovery and Resilience Fund Top up - fund has now closed.
- Scotland Pivotal Event Business Fund - fund has now closed.
- Marine and Outdoor Tourism Restart Fund - fund has now closed.
- Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund - fund has now closed.
- Visitor Attractions Support Fund - fund has now closed
- Grassroots Music Venue Stabilisation Fund. Round 2 has now closed.