STA responds to announcement of support for businesses by Scottish Government -18 March

The Scottish Tourism Alliance responds to announcement of support for businesses by Scottish Government

Marc Crothall, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) commented;

“The STA is reassured that the Scottish Government fully appreciates all aspects of the unfolding crisis across Scotland’s tourism industry and is doing everything within its power to protect businesses and staff within the sector, their families and our communities.

Many of the measures we have outlined in our letter to the Finance Secretary last week, and in our daily conversations with government ministers and policy makers have been announced today along with a clear commitment to push the UK government for what is absolutely necessary in terms of reducing cost pressures through tax holidays, PAYE breaks and the suspension of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Urgent clarity around how businesses can access the support announced today will be key; this is being raised by all of our members, however I am sure that our industry will take comfort from knowing that the gravity of what is happening on a daily basis is being fully understood and that support is coming.  This process must be robust and seamless.

The STA will continue to gather information from all sectors within the industry for our daily conversations with government ministers and officials and we will push for additional measures to come from the UK government, including an agreement between the UK government and the Association of British Insurers.  We will continue to update Scotland’s tourism industry on what support and resources are available to them on a daily basis and act as the lead voice of the sector in what is undoubtedly the biggest crisis our industry will ever likely experience.