Scotland: The Scottish Tourism Alliance, UKHospitality Scotland, the Scottish Licensed Commerce Affiliation and the Scottish Beer and Pub Affiliation have issued a unified assertion in response to the Scottish Authorities Price range this week.
Collectively, the tourism and hospitality our bodies highlighted the fabric risk of long-term harm to the competitiveness of Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sector, on account of ongoing motion.
Commenting, the teams mentioned: “With estimated consequentials of round £230 million coming to Scotland on account of the 75 per cent charges aid afforded to companies in England, the Scottish Authorities has squandered a golden alternative to assist one of many nation’s most necessary sectors for the second yr in a row.
“The 100 per cent charges aid which has been introduced for hospitality companies in our island communities is welcomed, given the financial disruption these companies have skilled on account of years of underinvestment in our ferry infrastructure. Nonetheless, this measure falls very in need of what has been anticipated. It’s an excessive disappointment for tourism and hospitality companies throughout Scotland.
“The shortage of enterprise assist measures will see many hundreds of tourism and hospitality companies dealing with acute monetary challenges within the subsequent yr, tipping many into disaster.
“It additionally entrenches the truth that it’s now immeasurably more durable to run a hospitality, leisure or tourism enterprise in Scotland, than anyplace else in Britain. That is notably highlighted by the choice to not assist the sector with charges aid, at a time when pubs in Scotland are already closing at twice the speed of these in England.
“Round 10,000 of our companies is not going to profit from the Small Enterprise Bonus Scheme, leaving them unsupported, and this rising gulf with the remainder of Britain will price jobs, financial development, funding and, finally, tax revenues that are wanted to fund public companies.
“The announcement of a brand new revenue tax band can even hit our sector’s means to recruit senior and extremely skilled candidates from elsewhere within the UK and doubtlessly retain our rising management expertise. Companies already report that it’s difficult to fill vacancies, with increased tax in Scotland being a barrier.
“One constructive is the choice to freeze the poundage, which retains one other multi-million value rise at bay for now, however this can merely preserve the established order of already extortionate enterprise charges.
“The Scottish Authorities should now work carefully with companies, as promised within the Price range announcement, to convey ahead a transparent technique for financial restoration and development, together with delivering on its dedication to reform enterprise charges by way of cautious examination of the methodology as a place to begin,” it added.
The representatives of all 4 organisations are: Marc Crothall, CEO, Scottish Tourism Alliance; Leon Thompson, govt director, UKHospitality Scotland; Paul Togneri, senior adviser, Scottish Beer and Pub Affiliation; and Colin Wilkinson, managing director, Scottish Licensed Commerce Affiliation.
