Eat Out To Help Out: Scheme good but should have come later in the year, say Moray tourism businesses
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THE UK government's Eat Out To Help Out scheme has been "good" but would have been "even better" later in the year, according to many Moray businesses.
A number of the area's tourism businesses were given the opportunity to raise issues with Moray MP Douglas Ross and Visit Moray Speyside chief-executive Laurie Piper via a virtual meeting on Wednesday.
Stakeholders from ten different businesses took part in a virtual conference, hosted from the Enterprise Park near Forres, with the Eat Out To Help Out scheme one of the main talking points.
Elgin's Sunninghill Hotel, who are signed up for the scheme, were in attendance.
Jonathan Orr, one of the hotel's directors, said: "The scheme has certainly helped. We have been busier and it has got people out.
"But the general consensus is that it would have been even better later in the year – even in six weeks time – when we are traditionally quieter.
"With the furlough scheme ending after October there is concern about what will happen to trade.
"If there was something in October or November time, that would be absolutely superb and would be the boost that the whole industry requires."
Visit Moray Speyside chief-executive Laurie Piper added: "In September, October and November, when there aren't as many tourists around, I think businesses would welcome the support.
"The Eat Out To Help Out scheme, as part of a package of further measures, could be a crucial tool in helping to rebuild confidence in our region's tourism and hospitality industry."
Moray's conservative MP Douglas Ross said he will report back to UK chancellor Rushi Sunak with the findings from the meeting, and will mention the possibility of the Eat Out scheme running outwith August.
He said: "The scheme has been really successful and I heard lots of positivity about it.
"What I hadn't really thought about until I heard from the businesses is that maybe it hasn't been pitched at the right time.
"Maybe in October or November when the furlough scheme ends it will be more important to get footfall through these businesses.
"This is something I'm going to raise with the chancellor and the treasury after this meeting.
"The chancellor is keen to hear how these schemes are going in Scotland. I can't guarantee he will make an immediate change but what I can do is represent the businesses that made those comments to me and put as strong as possible a case to him."
Those in attendance included four self-catering businesses, along with Tannochbrae Guest House (Dufftown), Sunninghill Hotel (Elgin), Dowans Hotel (Aberlour), Stotfield Hotel (Lossiemouth) and The Loft (Kinloss).
A number of other issues, including customers travelling from areas with high covid-19 infection rates and small business grants, were brought up during the hour-long virtual meeting.
