£2.5m Funding lifeline for Scottish Marine, Boating and Outdoor Industry
The Scottish Government has announced a £2.5m Covid-19 support package for the Marine, Boating and Outdoor Tourism sector.
Sail Scotland and the outdoor tourism group Wild Scotland have secured a £2.5m re-start grant scheme aimed at supporting businesses through the high expenditure period of recommissioning vessels, visitor moorings and visitor pontoons for the 2021 season. The scheme will also support land-based activity and adventure providers.
The scheme will open in mid to late January and will be administered by VisitScotland.
The scheme will provide grants to operators working across bareboat and skippered charter, fully inclusive sail/cruise holiday, day trips and adventure trips. Both inland and coastal operators will be eligible to apply for grants from £1,000 up to £15,000. In addition, operators of visitor moorings and visitor pontoons will be able to access grants between £1,000 up to £7,500.
Alan Rankin CEO at Sail Scotland said “After months of pressing the case to the Scottish Government we are pleased the hardship faced by operators in the marine sector is being recognised. Recent industry surveys indicated over 75% of operators in the charter sector secured 2 months or less of trading in 2020. In addition, the lack of any movement on the 2m distancing made it unviable for many charter and sail and small cruise ship holidays providers to operate. Harbour groups and managers of visitor pontoon services faced a curtailed season, many of whom are not for profit groups and play a vital role in the world class sailing experiences Scotland is so renowned for.”
