VisitScotland grants to assist trio of Moray tourism organisations on post-Covid journey
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THREE Moray Speyside organisations will receive a share in a £500,000 VisitScotland support package.
Visit Moray Speyside, NE250 and Cullen Voluntary Tourism Initiative are among 81 member destination and sector tourism groups across Scotland impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to have been successful in applications.
The money comes from the Tourism Destination and Sector Support Fund, which was launched by VisitScotland last month.
The successful applicants represent more than 10,000 tourism businesses in Scotland. The grants are designed to support their survival and ensure they are able to continue working with VisitScotland in the weeks and months ahead.
The one-off fund was created in response to the devastating impact of the pandemic on Scottish tourism and open to all destination and sector groups that have a membership base made up of entirely, or predominantly, tourism businesses.
A total of 98 applications were received requesting a total of £1.6 million.
The fund, which closed on May 22, was originally set at £400,000 but was increased to £500,000 due to the volume of requests.
Successful applicants could be awarded up to 50% of their membership income under threat due to coronavirus.
Laurie Piper, chief executive of Visit Moray Speyside, Scotland’s newest tourism BID, said: "The funding award from VisitScotland will enable Visit Moray Speyside to increase the resources targeted at supporting the tourism businesses across our region, helping them to recover and our region’s tourism industry to re-set and rebuild."
Riddell Graham, director of industry and destination development at VisitScotland, said: "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.
"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.
"Recovery will require our collective efforts and this fund represents a great opportunity to enable a collaborative approach to meet the massive challenges set by the pandemic and ensure the best possible outcomes for the whole of the visitor economy."
Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing this week announced that tourism businesses should prepare to reopen from a provisional date of July 15. He added: "The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for Scotland’s tourism sector.
"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."
