VisitScotland will distribute funding worth up to £28.8 million to the tourism and events industry as part of a multimillion-pound Scottish Government support package for businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron COVID variant.

The funding includes up to £9 million for tourism businesses, which will be distributed by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

To help funding reach businesses in the quickest way possible, a one-off payment may be made to businesses previously supported in 2021.

Following discussions with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG), it has been decided that the following sectors, previously supported by other funds, will be eligible for top-up grants:

• coach operators
• day tour operators
• hostels
• inbound tour operators
• outdoor/marine
• visitor attractions

To qualify for a grant, a business must still be trading and have been open and incurred a loss between 8 December 2021 and 21 January 2022.

Eligible businesses which were previously supported by VisitScotland through other funds will be contacted directly by email and asked to confirm basic information before payments are made.

Eligible businesses will receive a top-up payment of £6,800 under the fund.

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