Applications are set to open for a slice of a nearly £6 million Scottish government fund set aside to kick-start Scotland’s outbound travel sector.
Tour operators, travel agents and travel management companies will, from Thursday, be able to apply for a grant from the Outbound Travel Support Fund; applications will be open until midday on 24 March.
The Scottish government website has set out the application criteria, which include selling UK and international travel, and having been trading prior to 9 February this year.
Eligible businesses must operate from owned or rented premises with a non-domestic rates account, or be set up as self-employed with a unique tax reference, and must declare all previous support from any UK, Scottish or local government support schemes.
Awards will depend on the size of each individual business, and will be administered as a one-off payment.
Self-employed, sole-trading outbound travel businesses can apply for up to £3,950, while businesses with premises with a rateable value of up to, and including £18,000, can secure up to £12,000.
Business with premises with a rateable value in excess of £18,001 will be eligible for a grant of up to £30,000.
The Scottish government pledged £3.5 million in support last month, followed by a further £2.4 million less than two weeks later.
