Adventure and marine tour operator bodies across Scotland have welcomed £100 million in government funding to support self-employed, micro-operators and small and medium-sized enterprises.
National bodies Wild Scotland and Sail Scotland, who have both been fielding calls from concerned businesses in the past few weeks, have welcomed the announcement made earlier this week by Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop.
The two organisations clubbed together to lobby the Scottish Government and have been left pleased with the latest commitment.
The £100 million fund will be broken into three hardship funds through a £34 million newly self-employed fund, which will be managed by local authorities offering grants of up to £2,000, a £20 million creative, tourism and hospitality enterprises fund, and a £45 million pivotal enterprise resilience fund.
Gavin McDonagh, chairman of Sail Scotland, said marine and outdoor activities are “key tourism drivers in Scotland”.
He added the funding is required to support businesses in “desperate straits” as without direct support “they will not make it through the year”.
Doug McAdam, chairman of Wild Scotland, said: “We are pleased that this gap in support for adventure and marine tourism operators has been acknowledged and that they are now included under these new funds.”
