Scottish Tourism Alliance responds to First Minister announcement on introduction of Level 4 restrictions

Marc Crothall, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance said;

“The First Minister’s announcement today that 11 of Scotland’s local authorities will move into Level 4 from Friday will be the final blow for many of Scotland’s tourism and hospitality businesses in these areas which have struggled to survive throughout this pandemic.

The STA is fully supportive of the right measures to protect public health in the short and longer term balanced with policy to protect the needs of the economy, particularly the tourism sector which has undoubtedly been the hardest to be hit by the pandemic, however, the reality is that without a robust increase in funding support, businesses will continue to close.

The news announced today that a £15m support fund will be offered to the newly self-employed will come as a relief to some in the tourism sector, however we await to see the finer detail of this.

I am hopeful that given the conversations our Chair and I had with the First Minister last week and the acknowledgement by the FM of the severity of the impact on our sector, that a much needed increased targeted support package for tourism and hospitality businesses will be forthcoming in the coming days.

It remains the case the current grant support available to the majority of businesses right across the sector in all tiers is still some distance from the level required to enable many to remain solvent and meet the costs of staying closed in the period ahead.  Without further specific and targeted support I fear will we be hearing of many more businesses not able to survive this ‘third winter’ and closing their doors for good.”