A fund worth £1 million has been launched today (Thursday, 4 March) to provide support to campervan and motorhome operators in Scotland who are facing financial hardship due to the impact of Covid-19.
The Campervan and Motorhome Rental Operators Fund is being delivered by VisitScotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, with support from the Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association (CaMPA). The fund is part of an overall £104.3 million package of support for tourism businesses. An additional £25 million of funding was announced by the Scottish Government on 11 February to help businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector to survive the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This fund is intended to support the financial continuity of eligible businesses through the next three months when it is hoped that trading will start to recover. The fund will be open for applications from 12 noon on Thursday, 11 March, with guidance on how to apply launched today.
Eligible businesses will be able to apply for support. Full details on the fund are available here alongside the eligibility criteria and what information applicants will need to prepare for their application. The fund will be open for applications from 12 noon on Thursday, 11 March and the final amounts awarded to a successful applicant will be determined once all applications are received by the closing date of 5pm on Thursday, 18 March.
Riddell Graham, Director of Industry & Destination Development, VisitScotland, said:
“The Scottish tourism industry has been devastated by the Coronavirus pandemic. With each sector of the industry and every area of Scotland affected, it is vital that our efforts go towards enabling funds to be directed towards those businesses who need it. Campervan and motorhomes rental operators attract adventure-seeking visitors and encourage them to explore Scotland and support local businesses.
“Recovery will require our collective efforts and we must act as one to ensure the best possible outcomes for the whole of the visitor economy”.
Catherine Bunn, Chair of CaMPA, said:
“This pandemic has been felt by all in the tourism industry, including motorhome and campervan rental fleets. Motorhomes are ideal for socially distanced travel, but the sector has felt the financial repercussions of travel being put on hold. We have been working closely with many organisations to help them understand the needs of modern motorhome and campervan users and the positive impact these visitors can bring to communities and tourism businesses.
“The vast majority of motorhomers and campervanners are responsible individuals who love the countryside and the communities they are visiting. They support other businesses by spending money at visitor attractions, cafes and restaurants, so the benefits are far-reaching. Modern campervanners tend to seek out new experiences and want to create lifelong memories of adventure, which are at the heart of every trip to Scotland. The funding announced by the Scottish Government will help ensure that businesses can now focus on preparing for the season ahead”.
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