PE1889/B: Financial support for self-employed people in the travel industry
Wide-ranging measures have been put in place to help the sector. We are offering a comprehensive non-domestic rates relief in for retail, hospitality and aviation and this includes travel agents. This was extended to 100% non-domestic rates relief into 2021-22.
Eligible travel agents benefited from sectoral grants of up to £25,000 per premises this year in addition to other support including Strategic Framework Business Fund grants, Restart Grants, furlough payments for staff, and non-domestic rates relief for retail premises.
The Business Minister also met with the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association and ABTA (The Travel Association and formerly known as the Association of British Travel Agents) to hear directly the sector’s concerns and consider options.
The financial challenges facing the travel agents’ sector cannot be resolved by the Scottish Government alone: a UK-wide solution is necessary in order to mitigate the financial challenges. We have written to the UK Minister for Business and Industry seeking a dialogue on this issue.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
PE1889/A - Financial support for self-employed people in the travel industry