VisitScotland is introducing a new holiday voucher scheme aimed at supporting industry recovery and helping to create a responsible tourism industry which is more socially sustainable and inclusive.
The key objectives of the scheme are :
- To stimulate off-peak domestic breaks and day visits for low-income families, unpaid carers and disadvantaged young people by offering subsidised breaks in Scotland.
- To support the tourism and hospitality sector to recover when the pandemic lockdown measures have lifted and offer new target group and marketing opportunities.
- To offer opportunities for improved well-being and greater participation in community life for the target groups.
The ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme (the Scheme) is funded by Scottish Government and forms part of the Scottish tourism recovery programme. The new Scheme will enable low income families, unpaid carers and disadvantaged young people to enjoy a two or three night subsidised break or day out in Scotland. The Scheme offers a contribution towards a holiday stay in hotels, campsites, bed and breakfasts, hostels and guest houses or day visit activities in Scotland from August 2021 to December 2022.
Funding for the overnight breaks is capped at £400 for a two or three night stay, but a higher capped amount of £500 is available to eligible families or carers who have children of school age and take a two or three night stay during school holiday periods (i.e. Easter, summer from June to August, October and Christmas and New Year).
ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher revised
Members have asked why self-catering is not included in the scheme:
“For the moment we have not included self-catering businesses in the Scheme. Our charity partners felt that the demand and their ability to match beneficiaries to self-catering accommodation was deemed to be low during the initial launch period in the Autumn.
Self-catering accommodation also offers a different holiday experience, whereby beneficiaries would be on their own in the property without serviced facilities or other guests.
If, however after the Scheme has opened to applicants, and we see demand from beneficiaries for this type of accommodation we will consider the inclusion of self-caterers in the Scheme later in the year.”