(TAN): VisitScotland will provide a funding of GBP 500,000 (USD 627,608 approximately) to the tourism groups hit by COVID-19.
The national tourism organisation announced the support package to keep businesses afloat during the lockdown that has devastated the region’s tourism sector.
All destination and sector groups with all or most members associated with tourism businesses were eligible to apply for the Tourism Destination and Sector Support Fund, which was created to counter the impact of the pandemic in Scotland. So far, 81 membership groups representing over 10,000 tourism businesses have applied for the fund.
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“The Coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the Scottish tourism industry and this funding package for destination organisations and sector groups will hopefully go some way towards supporting them through this challenging time,” Director of Industry and Destination Development at VisitScotland, Riddell Graham, said.
VisitScotland increased the funding from the original amount of GBP 400,000 after requests came pouring in.
“We are pleased to have been able to increase our original funding pot to enable us to provide some funding for all eligible applicants. Even then it is unsurprising that the number of applications has been in excess of what is available and as such difficult decisions have had to be taken,” Graham added.
“We have a long way to go but this funding package will be a welcome boost for destination management organisations and sector groups. It will enable them to keep working with VisitScotland, tourism businesses and local communities to build a strong and safe recovery, welcoming visitors again in Phase 3 of the route map,” Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Fergus Ewing, said.
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Discover Scottish Gardens (DSG), one of the recipients of the funding, said the financial support will help them continue their operations in the near future.
“Being a small non-profit, DSG relies heavily on membership fees to support and deliver a majority of our work. This grant will allow us to continue operating, delivering the new Scottish Summer Garden Festival (virtually) and supporting our members who cannot afford to pay their membership fee at this time due to the pandemic. These funds will aid us during the difficult times we are facing at present and in the coming months,” Caroline Gould, Manager at DSG, said.
