Visitor services still eligible for payroll support

Thursday 27 May 2021

A new support scheme has been set up to combat continued uncertainty over travel for visitor-reliant businesses.

The Visitor Accommodation Support scheme has been introduced “in light of the uncertainty over the level of travel activity over the coming months.”

The scheme will cover 80% of business overheads in specific sectors that support the visitor industry, excluding salaries. To further support these industries payroll co-funding will be continued until September.

The sectors that will continue to receive these support measures are:

• event management and event services;

• passenger transports and travel;

• pet accommodation services;

• rental and leasing of cars;

• taxi drivers;

• tourist attractions

Visitor services can apply for support HERE from the new scheme, which will be launched next month for a 12-month period, backdated to 1 April.

This is despite a near complete relaxation of our borders expected to come into force from 1 July.

“The Visitor Attraction Support scheme, when launched, will fill a gap identified in our current support to help those businesses who play an important role in our overall visitor offering,” said Deputy Mark Helyar from the Policy and Resources Committee.

“There is an acknowledged need for added support to help with the burden of overheads, seeing as income generated by these businesses since the start of the pandemic will have been minimal.

“Where necessary we are continuing to provide proportionate support, but as with any support scheme, we will keep this under review to make sure that support is only provided where it is needed."