B&Bs call for funding after being hit by Christmas cancellations
But The Scottish Government say they are currently "not in scope" to receive business support
B&Bs and Guest Houses are urging the Scottish Government for financial support after being hit by cancellations over Christmas.
According to a recent survey, 60% of businesses within the sector said they had call-offs due to parties over the festive period being cancelled.
The Scottish Guest House and B&B Alliance are now calling for grants to be administered, to help those in the industry affected by the rise of the omicron variant of COVID-19.
Knock-on effect to local economy
Chair of the Alliance, Sinclair Williamson runs the Lochinver Guest House in Ayr and previously lived and worked in Inverness.
Sinclair wrote to Finance Secretary Kate Forbes last week detailing the sector's fears, but has yet to receive a response.
He said: "We feel very concerned because Bed and Breakfasts and Guest Houses are the backbone of the accommodation sector for tourism in Scotland.
"Tourism is such a huge industry across the country.
"We support other businesses as well because we buy from local suppliers.
"We bring tourists into the area who support other businesses.
"If businesses like ours fail, then it has a knock-on effect.
"It has been extremely difficult, many businesses have already closed.
"We've essentially been through a series of winters, normally we have a good summer season to help recover.
"The summer just past was quite good for some people in the sector, very good for others, but in a lot of parts in Scotland with no international travel it has been an absolute disaster.
"The worst case scenario is people could go bankrupt.
"The impact of that is obviously disastrous personally, but it just means that there's not enough accommodation and there's not going to be enough accommodation when markets do recover."
"Finite resource" to provide business support
The Scottish Government say B&Bs are currently "not in scope" to receive business support as they say there are no restrictions on these sectors like other tourism companies.
A spokesperson said: "We are all too aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had – and continues to have – on business and the Scottish economy.
"We have announced £6 million for affected businesses in the tourism sector, specifically targeted at those who have been impacted the most by the necessary public health advice to stem the spread of Omicron.
"Business support is intended to mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic restrictions and cannot make up for all losses.
"We have finite resource to provide business support and B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering accommodation providers are not in scope at this stage as there are no restrictions on these sectors unlike other tourism businesses.
“We fully recognise the challenges that some B&Bs, guest houses and self-catering accommodation providers may be facing and we will continue to press the UK Government for more comprehensive support.”