“Today’s announcement by the Chancellor to extend furlough to March 2021, covering up to 80% of a person’s salary will come as a huge relief to tourism businesses across Scotland, as will the confirmation of the extra £1BN funding to the Scottish Government to allocate in response to the Covid challenge. However, furlough alone will not help the industry to survive as we move into what has now become known as ‘the third winter’ for the sector.
Both UK and Scottish governments must continue to recognise the urgent need for more robust funding to be channelled into the sector by way of additional grants so that businesses can remain solvent through to Spring 2021.
There continues to be gaps in government support as some in the industry remain excluded from these schemes, and there are many in the vital supply chain that will also need to be assured of guaranteed grant support to help them through the winter months.
We very much hope that both governments recognise this and that the additional £1BN made available to the Scottish Government will allow them to allocate realistic sums to address those gaps and provide a sufficient level of grant support to tourism and hospitality businesses in the coming weeks ahead.”
Marc Crothall, CEO Scottish Tourism Alliance.