ASSC Survey intoSelf-Caterer Access to Covid-19

Business Support & SectoralRecovery

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Supporting self-catering in Scotland

Survey 4

37% of SCU grant applications not yet approved

25% of respondents operate a business from a Scottish island

61% of respondents feel pessimistic about their businesses’ sustainability

58% of respondents think that self-catering should be in the first tier of businesses that can open

96% of respondents feel that re-opening requires clear messaging from the Scottish Government and local authorities

ASSCSURVEYINTOSELF-CATERERACCESSTOCOVID-19BUSINESSSUPPORT&SECTORALRECOVERYIntroduction• TheAssociationofScotland’sSelf-Caterers(ASSC)istheleadingsourceofknowledgeonshort-termletting

andholidayhomesinScotland.TheASSChavepreviouslyconductedthreeScotland-widesectoralsurveysrelatingtoissuesconcerningeligibilityandaccesstothevariouspackagesofeconomicsupportfromtheScottishandUKGovernmentsinresponsetotheCOVID-19pandemic.

• Thisfourthsurveyupdatesontheprogressinthedistributionofgrantfunding,whichisvitalintheimmediateterm,butthenewsurveyalsolookstowardsthefutureintermsofexitinglockdownandtherecoveryphaseforoursector.

• TheresultsoffervaluableinsightsfromScottishself-cateringoperatorsinasectorthathasbeenestimatedtocontributeover£723meachyeartotheScottisheconomy.

SurveyOverview• TheASSCranafourthroundoftheironlinesurveyconsistingof14questions.ThiswaspublicisedviaASSC

newsletters,aswellasontheASSC’ssocialmediapagesonTwitterandFacebookandviaindustrycontacts.

• In24hours,thesurveygenerated687responsesfrombusinessesin29outof32localauthorities.329werefrommembersoftheASSCand358responseswerefromnon-members.Thesurveyclosedat7pmon14thMay.

SummaryThissurveytiestogethertwocrucialissues–supportforself-cateringoperatorsintheimmediatetermtoensurebusinesssurvival,andpositingafuturefortheself-cateringsectorasweplantherecoveryofScottishtourism.Itishopedthatthefindingswill:1. Continuetoinformdiscussionregardingthesupportrequiredforself-cateringoperatorsinScotland,as

wellaswhatchangesarenecessarytoprotectlivelihoodsinwhathasbeenakeycomponentpartofScotland’stourismofferingforageneration.

2. Informtheindustryandgovernmentaldiscussionaboutthegradualeasingoflockdownrestrictions,howthetouristsectorcanemergefromthecrisis,andthecommencementoftheRestartandRecoverphase.

Someofthekeyfindingsinclude:• ThemajorityofrespondentsthatintendtoapplyfortheSmallBusinessGrantforSelf-CateringUnits(SCU)

(76%)havealreadydoneso.

• Whiletherehasbeensomemovementonbusinessgrants,37%ofSCUgrantapplicationshavenotyetbeenapproved.Itremainsasignificantconcernthatmanyapplicationsarestilltobeapprovedalmost8weeksafterbeingtoldtoclosebytheScottishGovernment.

• Itisstillnotclearwhatevidencewillbeacceptedbylocalauthoritiesforthedifferentsupportschemes.

Considerableobstaclestoprogressremain,beitthelackofclearguidancetolocalauthoritiestoensureclarityandconsistencyanddifficultiesrelatingtothe140-daycriteria.

• 25%ofrespondentsoperateabusinessfromaScottishisland,whichmayimpactontheirabilityto

evidencetheeligibilitycriteriasetforSCUs.• 61%ofrespondentsarefeelingpessimisticabouttheirbusinesses’sustainability,with37%feeling

pessimisticinthelongerterm(6-12months).

• 48%ofrespondentsareconcernedaboutkeepingtheirbusinessgoingiflockdown/domestictravelrestrictionsgobeyondAugust.

• 78%ofrespondentsstatedtheywouldprefertoopenwhentravelrestrictionsareliftedbyScottish

Governmentand58%ofrespondentsthinkthatself-cateringshouldbeinthefirsttierofbusinessesthatcanopen.

• 96%ofrespondentsfeltthatopeningwouldrequireclearmessagingfromtheScottishGovernmentand

localauthoritiesthatitissafetotravel.

Q1WHEREISYOURBUSINESSBASED?LocalAuthority Numberof

RespondentsAberdeenCity 3Aberdeenshire 23Angus 13Argyll&Bute 63Clackmannanshire 1Dumfries&Galloway 39DundeeCity 2EastAyrshire 0EastDunbartonshire 2EastLothian 6EastRenfrewshire 0EdinburghCity 60EileanSiar 28Falkirk 2Fife 31GlasgowCity 5

LocalAuthority NumberofRespondents

Highland 204Inverclyde 0Midlothian 2Moray 17NorthAyrshire 39NorthLanarkshire 3Orkney 30Perth&Kinross 48Renfrewshire 1ScottishBorders 36Shetland 6SouthAyrshire 7SouthLanarkshire 7Stirling 22WestDunbartonshire 3WestLothian 3

*SomerespondentshavepropertiesacrossarangeoflocalauthorityareasQ2Isyourproperty/businessbasedonaScottishisland??Thevastmajorityofrespondentstoprevioussurveysidentifiedthattheycamefromruralareas(81%).Thissurveyidentifiedthat25%ofrespondentsoperateabusinessfromaScottishisland.ThemajorityarefromSkye,OrkneyandArran,with23respondentsfromislandsinArgyll&Bute.Island NumberofRespondents LocalAuthorityArran 33 NorthAyrshireBute 1 Argyll&ButeColonsay 1 Argyll&ButeCumbrae 1 NorthAyrshireEigg 2 HighlandHarris 5 EileanSiarIslay 4 Argyll&ButeLewis 8 EileanSiarLuing 1 Argyll&ButeMull 9 Argyll&ButeOrkney 28 OrkneyRaasay 1 HighlandSeil 1 Argyll&ButeSkye 42 HighlandShetland 6 ShetlandTiree 1 Argyll&ButeUist 7 EileanSiarYell 1 Shetland

Intermsofcontext,TheIslands(Scotland)ActrequireslocalauthoritiesandtheScottishGovernmentto‘islandproof’anylegislationorpolicydecisionaffectingScotland’sislandcommunities.UndertheAct,anislandcommunitiesimpactassessmentshouldbepreparedwhenaneworrevisedpolicy,strategyorserviceislikelytohaveasignificantlydifferenteffectonislandcommunities.Manyoftheseislandcommunitiesaretheveryoneswhoarebeingdisadvantagedbytheeligibilitycriteriaforself-cateringgrantsastheyarelesslikelytobeabletoevidence140nightsoccupancy.

TheCabinetSecretaryforRuralAffairsandTourism,FergusEwingMSP,confirmedon12thMaythatariskassessmenthadnotbeenundertakeninlinewiththeIslands(Scotland)Act,duetounderstandabletimeconstraintsduringthecrisis,butthatthe140-nighteligibilitycriteriashouldberevisitedinresponsetothis.Q3HaveyouappliedforaCovid-19Grant?• Thevastmajority(73%)haveappliedfora£10,000SmallBusinessGrant,withonly3%havingappliedfor

the£25,000grant.AverysmallnumberofpeoplehaveappliedforeitherthePivotalEnterpriseResilienceFundortheNewlySelf-EmployedHardshipFund.

• Worryingly5%orrespondentsarestillconfusedabouttheeligibilitycriteriaandwhethertheywillbeabletoqualifyforagrant.

£10,000grant 488 £25,000grant 19Creative,Tourism&HospitalityHardshipFund 43PivotalEnterpriseResilienceFund 8 NewlySelf-EmployedHardshipFund 8Notyet,butIwillbeapplying 28Idonotqualify 88Iamnotsure-Iamconfusedabouttheeligibility criteriaandwhetherIwillbeabletoqualifyforagrant 38Issues/concernsrespondentshadabouttheapplicationprocess:“IcannotmakethefirstclaimbecauseIdonothaveabusinessbankaccount-mytaxesareassessedasself-employed”“Theapplicationformforthehospitalitygrantwashorrendous,ittookagestotryandloginandtheinformationthatisrequiredisunbelievable!”“Runbusinesswithmyhusbandand,althoughit’smymainsourceofincomeandmyonlyemployment,heworksfull-timesowearenoteligible.Wecouldn’tpossiblysustainthebusinesswithouthimworkingfull-timeasthere’salotofcapitalinvestedinthebusiness”“Facingsubstantiallosseswithnoprospectofassistance.Can'tunderstandwhyschemenotsimplifiedandsimilartoschemethatwasavailableduringF&Moutbreak-muchsimpler”“Ourself-cateringcottagesarerunaspartofafarmandotherbusinesses.Amnotsureabouteligibilitybecauseofincomepercentageofthewhole”“Wehavealsoputinfortwo£7,500grantsforthetwoothercottagesweoperateasself-catering.Onehasbeenrejectedsayingthatitdidshowproofofhavingactuallybeenletfor140day(itwasanewpropertythatwebroughtontoonthemarketlastyear),ourunderstandingwastherulesrequiredustoprovethatitwasAVAILABLEtoletfor140daysormoreandwejustwonderwhetherthewordinghaschangedsincefirstbeingputout.Itwouldbegoodtoknow”

Q4Howmanysecondpropertygrantshaveyouappliedforat75%?• Themajorityofrespondentshaveappliedforjustoneproperty.Outof407respondentstothisparticular

question,only2%ofrespondentstothisquestionhaveappliedformorethanfiveproperties.• Businesseswithseveralpropertiesunderonerateablevalueareineligibleforsecondarygrants,despite

thesizeorturnoverofthebusiness.Thiswashighlightedrepeatedly.• Therewereseveralresponsesstatingthattheywouldonlyapplyforadditionalgrantsasandwhen

required.1property 119 2-4properties 84 5-9properties 6 10plusproperties 4 Comments:“onegroupofthreeareratedasonesotryingtogetindividuallyratedbuttakingawhilebutthinktheywill”“Ihaveasecondpropertybithavenotappliedastheadvicewastoonlyapplyforwhatyouneedwhenyouneedit”“Havenotappliedfor2ndpropertygrantasyet.Feelthatwe'vehadadequatecompensationforlossofbusinesssofarassumingthatwecanreopentobenefitatleastfromourautumnbookings”

CaseStudy“Havenotappliedasclarificationrequiredonjointownership,i.e.takebothincomesdivideby1/3rdcriteria;also,asmentionedpreviouslywhatisclassedasincome?i.e.Doesitrelatetotallytoearnedincomeordoesoneincludedividend/interestincomeorevenpensionableincome?HowdoesthishavetobedemonstratedasIthinkitiscompletelyoutofordertohavetodivulgetoalocalauthorityyourtotalincome-earnedorotherwise-totryandjustifythatyourbusinesshassuffered-thecriteriaiscompletelyirrelevantwhenitisnotbeingappliedtootherpartsoftheUK-whatisthedifferencebetweenScotland,LakeDistrictorCornwall-weareallinthistogether.140days-propertyisavailablemorethan140daysbutclarificationrequiredonwhetherpropertyshouldactuallybeletfor140daysormoreandwhathappensifyoujustfallbelowthatcriteria,i.e.17-19letweeks?Asmentionedpreviously,acopyoftherelevantHMRCincometaxpropertypageorotherwiseshouldbesufficienttojustifythatyouareaproperbusiness-ifitisgoodenoughforHMRC,itsurelyhastobegoodenoughoralocalauthoritywhichthencoincideswithpayingnon-domesticratesandreceivingtheapplicableraterelief”.Argyll&Bute

Q5HighlighttheSupportSchemesthatyouhaveappliedfor• ItisinterestingtonotethatthemajorityofrespondentsthatintendtoapplyfortheSmallBusinessGrant

(76%)seemtohavealreadydoneso.Again,theself-cateringsectorislargelytappingintothesupportschemesthatweredesignedforthem.

• Itisconcerningthat11%feelthattheywanttoapplybutareineligible.• Thosethatarenotonnon-domesticratesappeartobeapplyingtothealternativeschemes.

Haveapplied

Goingtoapply

Wanttoapplybutdon'tqualify

Notapplicabletome

£10,000grant 478 27 70 52£25,000grant 18 4 27 214SecondpropertyGrantat75% 118 50 43 165Self-EmployedGrant(SEISS) 42 46 99 155StaffFurloughScheme(CJRS) 74 3 10 228BusinessInterruptionLoan(CBILS) 12 11 15 220Bounce-BackLoan 56 43 7 185Creative,Tourism&HospitalityHardshipFund

43 19 43 175

PivotalEnterpriseResilienceFund 8 21 21 213NewlySelf-EmployedHardshipFund 6 6 18 240TheASSCbelievethatitwouldbeveryusefultofindoutthenumberofapplicationsfortheSmallBusinessGrantspecificallyforself-cateringunitsacrosstheindividuallocalauthorities.Havepeoplenotappliedduetoconcernsabouteligibility?Hastheschemebeenunderoroversubscribedforoursector?Thiswouldinformconversationsregardingfurthersupportforthosestillfallingthroughthegaps.Q6Howlongdidittakeforyourapplicationtobeapproved?• TheASSCisstillreceivingrepresentationthatgrantsarebeingwithheldornotprocessedforself-caterers

inanumberoflocalauthorities.Concernremainsthatahugenumberofbusinessesbelievetheyareineligibleforsupportbasedontheoverlystrictcriteria.

• COSLAisawarethattherehavebeen“issueswiththeguidancethathasmeantsomeapplicants,includingself-catering,havebeenonholdandinsomeareasthatisalsoafunctionoftheconstantbackandforwardwithapplicantsaspeopleapplyingfailtoprovideenoughortherightinformationwhichcausesdelays”(HughLightbody,COSLA,8thMay).

• Oursurveyrevealsthatwhilst35%ofapplicationswereapprovedwithin2weeks,aworrying17%ofapplicationshavetakenover4weeks.Evenmoreconcerningisthatrespondentsreportthat37%ofapplicationhavenotyetbeenapproved.

1week 80 2weeks 87 3weeks 53 4weeks 46 5weeks 15 Over6weeks 18Applicationhasnotyetbeenapproved 172

Q7GrantApplicationScenarios-Tickanythatapplytoyou?Ihavebeenaskedfor2019-2020Accounts 143 Ihavebeenadvisedthat2018-2019Accountsarenotacceptable 23 Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyproofof140nightsfor2019-2020bookings 310 Ihavebeenadvisedthatproofof140nightsfor2018-2019bookingsisnotacceptable 19 Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyjointorhouseholdincomeorearnings,eventhoughIamtheFHLOperator/Ratepayer 39 Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyacopyofmypublicliabilityinsurance 123 Ihavebeenaskedtosupplydetailsofweeklyrentalrates 32 IhavebeenaskedtoprovidethesameinformationthatIhavealreadysupplied 69 Ihavebeenaskedtosupplyadditionalinformation 63 MyLocalAuthoritydonotseemtobeprocessingself-cateringgrants 13 Myself-cateringbusinessprovidessignificantincomebutitisunderonethirdofearnings 50 Myself-cateringbusinessdoesnothaveproofof140nightsyearonyear 32 Ihaveanewbusinessandcannotprovidetheinformationrequested 24 Q8Whydonotthinkyouqualifyfortheanyofthesupportschemes?• Asignificantnumberofpeoplearebeingimpactedbyhavingasinglerateablevalue.• Oursurveyidentifiedthatitisstillnotclearonwhatevidencewillbeacceptedforthedifferentsupport

schemes.Thisuncertaintyisclearlycausingadditionalstressataworryingtime.• Sixself-cateringrespondentshaveaRVofover£50,000,sohavenosupport.• Themajorityoftheschemesseemtodisadvantagenewbusinesses,whomayhaverecentlyinvested

heavilyintheirbusiness.• Thereseemstobesomeconfusionregardinggrantsrequiringabusinessbankaccount,wherethatisnot

aneligibilitycriterionfortheSmallBusinessGrants,butitisfortheHardshipFund.• Itwasnoted,again,thatself-cateringoperatorsarenoteligiblefortheSEISSduetothetechnical

exclusionofincomereportedintheFurnishedHolidayLets(FHL)boxesoftheirtaxreturns.HMRCintroducedtheFHLrulestodifferentiatebetweenprofessionalself-cateringoperatorsandpeoplelettingsecondhomesforafewweeksayear.OperatorswhocomplywiththeFHLRulesaredeemedtobeoperating“tradingbusinesses”similartohotels,whiletheincomegeneratedbypeopleoperatingbelowtheFHLthresholdisdeemedtobefrom“propertyinvestment”similartolandlords.Asprofessionalself-cateringbusinessesoperatingabovetheFHLthresholdaredeemedtobetradingbusinesses,itisthereforeeminentlysensiblethattheincomefromthesebusinessesisdeemedtobetradingincomeforthepurposestoSEISSsupport.TheUKGovernment’sDepartmentforDigital,Culture,Media&Sportannouncedon5thMaythattheGovernmentisholdingtoitsviewthatself-cateringincomeisnoteligibleforself-employedsupport(SEISS).

Icannotevidenceoccupancyofover140nights 58 Icannotevidencethatreceiptsrepresentaprimarysource (forexampleonethirdormore)ofearnings 81Idonothaveabusinessbankaccount 53Myrateablevalueisover£51k 6IcannotapplyformultiplepropertiesasIonlyhaveonerateablevalue 59Examples:“Idon’tearnenoughtoclaimself-employedincome.Ididn’tthinkthepivotalresiliencefundappliedtome.ThetourismgrantdidbutbecauseIhadalreadyreceivedthe£10,000grantIdon’tseemeligible”

“Thebankaccountusedforself-cateringisusedfornothingelse,butitisinourpersonalratherthanabusinessname.”“Theincomefromthepropertyislessthan30%ofmyoverallannualincome”.“Idon’thaveabusinessbankaccount”“Thebusinesscanonlyevidenceoccupancyofover140nightscoveringthetwocottages.Neithercottageisletformorethan140nights”“Thegovernmentwillnotacceptthatweareself-employed,becauseofFHLdeclaration”“IhopeIqualifyandthinkIdobutit’sjustunclearrethecriteriatheyarelookingforandit’saworry”“Businessisavailableforletforover140days,butIcanonlyconfirm124daysactuallyletasweonlyopenedinMay2019”

Q9Whatisthecurrentstatusofyourgrantapplicationwithyourlocalauthority?• Wewelcomethat47%ofrespondentshavehadgrantapplicationsapprovedbutthereisconsiderable

roomforimprovementtoensurethatallself-cateringoperatorscanaccessthevitalsupporttheyneed.• Itisconcerningthatlessthanhalfofapplicationshavebeenapprovedalmost8weeksafterbeingtoldto

closebytheScottishGovernment.24%ofrespondentsofoursectordonotappeartobeeligibleforgrantsupportdesignedspecificallyforself-cateringoperators.

Approved 325 47%ApplicationOutstanding 174 25%ApplicationRejected 24 4%N/A(noteligibleforagrant) 164 24%LiamMcArthurMSPsaid(6thMay):“Gettingtheeligibilitycriteriarightforthesefundingschemeswasnevergoingtobeeasy.TheFinanceSecretarydeservescredit,however,forbeingwillingtomakechangesbasedonfeedbackfrommyselfandMSPcolleagues,aswellasbusinessesdirectly.

“However,almosttwomonthsintothelockdown,anditisclearthatmanyself-cateringbusinessesinOrkneyarestillfallingthroughthegaps,despitebeingabletoevidenceself-cateringasaprimarysourceofincome.ThisnotonlythreatensthefutureoftheseindividualbusinessesbutalsopotentiallyOrkney’swidertourismsector.”

CaseStudy“MyWifeandIarebothself-employedoperatingasmallchaletholidaybusiness,wedoeverythingourselvesandemploynostaff,andyetwedonotcurrentlyqualifyforself-employmentgovernmentsupportasouraccountanthadtocompletetheFHLboxesonthetaxreturn,eventhoughwearepatentlyself-employed!Approximately80%ofourhouseholdincomecomesfromthisbusiness,butitseemswehavebeenleftinthecold.IhavewrittentoHMRCbuthadnoreplyyet.”Highland

Q10Ifyourgrantapplicationhasbeenrejected,onwhatgrounds?• Themajorityofgrantapplicationsrejectedwerebasedonthegroundsthattheycouldnotevidenceover

140nightsoccupancy.Otherscouldnotevidenceonethirdormoreofearnings.Themajorityoftheseinstanceswereinrurallocations.

• Issueswerealsoraisedwithbusinesseshavingseveralpropertiesbutonlyhavingonerateablevalueandthereforeownersareunabletoapplyforadditionalpropertygrants.

• Manyrespondentshaveseasonalbusinesses,sofallshortofthe140-nightoccupancythreshold,othersarenewbusinesses,orduetocancelledbookingscannotevidencethecriterion.Manypeoplefeelthattheeligibilityshouldbethenumberofnightsthepropertyisavailableforbookings,notactuallyletfor,basedonNon-DomesticRateseligibility.

Examples:“MySelf-cateringearningsarelessthanonethird(butstillhugelycriticaltoamixedandfairlylow-incomestream),sothisisagrosslyunfaircriterion.Myoccupancyfor2019/20islessthan140nights.HoweverastheofficialHMRCrequirementisfor105nights(whichIeasilyexceed)thiscriterionisarbitrary,basedonnothing,andalsogrosslyunfair.”“Multiplepropertiesdonotaddupto25kGrantAsdifferentrateablevalueseventhoughallonsamefarmnowhavetobeputinindividually”“MywifereceivedgrantforherpropertysoapparentlyIdonotqualifyformine”“OnlyopenedinNovember2019.Only137daysopen,butnotinseasonsodidnotmeetthe140days”“Notyetappliedasweneed2019/20accountspreparedandarecurrentlywaitingforouraccountanttocompletethese”“I'mstilltofilemyself-assessmentandEdinburghCityCouncilarenotacceptinganyotherproof,theywon'tbudge.MyAccountantwrotealetterofsupportconfirmingmyincomebutI'llnowhavetowaittosubmitaself-assessment”“Nocommunication,sohavenoideawhyitwasrejected”“notsurewhetheroursecondpropertiesareeligibleaswepaycounciltaxonthem”“Holidayletsareonlypartofourincomestreamandnot30%ormore.Governmenthappytoincludetheirrateablevaluehowevertowardstotalratesforbusinessaswholedespitezeroincomefromthemthisyear!”“Onepropertyhasbeenapproved.Secondandthirdpropertiesbeingarguedabout!”Q11Howareyoufeelingrightnowaboutyourbusiness?Thereisstillmuchconcernandinstabilitybeingfeltbytheself-cateringsector.BookingshavebeencancelledandguestsnowexpectafullrefundfollowinginterventionfromtheCompetitionandMarketsAuthority.Thiscouldnothavecomeataworsetimeforoursector,withnoincomeandlittleideawhenguestswillbeallowedtoreturn,orcommunitiesreadytowelcomeincomers.Withuncertaintyaboutthedurationoflockdown,oranyindicationofarecoveryplan,thereisincreasinganxietyforindividualbusinessesorthewelfareofthesector.Veryoptimistic 12 2%Somewhatoptimistic 94 14%Neutral 162 23%Somewhatpessimistic 274 40%Verypessimistic 145 21%

Examples:“Stillnoclearguidanceonwhenwemightbeabletoreopensototallyinlimbo.Iwillnotsurvivethroughthewinterifwecan'tre-openatleasttoclawbackAugust/Sep/October.Ifeeltourismhasbeentotallyignoredbythegovernment.Noguidanceofhowtoprepareforre-opening.”“Veryworriedandconcernedwithhowthecommunitywillreactwhenwearepermittedtoacceptandallowforbookings.Thereisarealdiscomfortthereandthefeelingthatwearecriminalsofsomesort-itsawfulandveryupsetting.Weallhavetomoveonandbehaveappropriatelywiththisvirus-itsnotgoingtogoawaylikemagic.Precautionshavetobetakenandweneedthisfromthetoplevel.”“Whenthegrantsdocomethroughtheywillaccountformuchlessthanhalfourannualturnoverwhichbarelycoverscosts.ItseemsunbelievablethatwedonotqualifyfortheSEISSschemeas,despiteoperatingasaprofessionalself-cateringbusiness,weareclassedasapropertyinvestmentconcernfortaxpurposes.WehavebeenleftwithnooptionbuttoapplyforUniversalCreditat£95/week.”“Thereseemstobearenewedvigourtoclosetheislandsforaslongaspossibleforpoliticalgainandjusttobedifferentforthesakeofit.Iunderstandthatthereisaneedtostopaninfluxofvisitors,butitisthesheerenthusiasmforatotalshutdownwithtalkofprolongingthattonextyearthatscaresmemost.”“Thereseemstobeverylittlemotivation,enthusiasmorurgencyforgettingtourismbackonitsfeetinScotland.Nothelpedby"visitorsnotwelcome"attitudeoftheScottishgovernmentandsomeMSPs.Self-cateringshouldbeamongstthefirstservicebusinessestoopenupaswecansociallydistanceveryeasily.Ifwedon'treopenbyJulythewholeseasonisgoingtobelost.VerydisappointedtohearVisitScotlandbackingtheSGupandshowinglackofurgencyforgettingvisitorsback.”“Withouttheappropriatelevelofsupportfromgrantsthebusinessmayrunintofinancialdifficulty.Althoughwehavemultipleproperties,asthesearelistedtogetherononeratesbillitisnotcertainwewillreceiveagrantforeachpropertyasthelocalauthoritymaybeclassingthisasoneunit.Itwillbedifficultforonegrantapplicationtocoverthefinancialobligationsformultipleproperties.”Q12Howareyoufeelingaboutyourbusinessforthenext6to12months?Thelonger-termoutlookisperceivedaspessimisticbythemajorityofrespondents.Manyareconcernedaboutthechallengeswithzeroincomeandnotknowingwhenguestswillbereturning.Veryoptimistic 12 2%Somewhatoptimistic 87 12%Neutral 116 17%Somewhatpessimistic 288 42%Verypessimistic 184 27%Examples:“Iflockdownimpactsareliftedthenpeoplewillgainmoreconfidence-atthemomenteveryonehaslostconfidenceinthemselvesexceptfortheveryfew.Isomehowthinkthatwithislandcommunityissuesandtravelrestrictionsinternationallyandlocallywithshopsandrestaurantsclosedthatthiswillcontinuetoimpactoneveryoneeconomically,mentalhealthandconfidencelevelsinmovingforwardpositively.”“Thefinancialstressonourbusinessesarehigh.Westandtoloseeverything.Wearemainlyseasonal,althoughourcottagesareavailableallyearround,theshouldermonthsdon’tevenalwaysbreakeven.So,weendedourseasonon31stOctober2019,re-investedheavilyinupgradesandmaintenanceofpropertiesoverthewintermonths,depletingthebankbalancesasisstandardwinterpractice,buteagerlylookingforwardtothe2020season,whichwasduetokickoffon3rdApril.Thatneverhappened,insteadwefindourselvesinsomeparalleluniversewhereitisgroundhogwinterseasonwithbetterweather,effectivelyasecondwinterseason,butabadonewithnoguestswhat-so-ever,andstaringdownthebarrelofathirdwinterseasoninarow,nevermind

withnomoneytore-invest,asisusualpracticeinthisindustry,butwithnomoneytopayourwayuntilwecanpotentiallybegintoearnagaininApril2021-ATerrifyingsituation.”“Eveniflockdowniseased,restrictionsfortraveltoOrkneymaystillapplyastheinfectionratehasbeenverylowhere,raisingconcernsoverthevulnerabilityofthecommunitywithlowimmunity.”Q13Whenwouldyoufeelcomfortablere-openingyourself-cateringbusiness?78%ofrespondentsstatedtheywouldprefertoopenwhentravelrestrictionsareliftedbyScottishGovernment.

Q14ImpactofCovid-19&ChangestoBusiness

• 96%ofrespondentsfeltthatopeningwouldrequireclearmessagingfromtheScottishGovernmentandlocalauthoritiesthatitissafetotravel

• 84%agreethatarobustPRcampaignisnecessarytorestoreconsumerconfidenceintourism• 58%ofrespondentsthinkthatself-cateringshouldbethefirsttierofbusinessesthatcanopen• 55%ofrespondentsagreedthatruralbusinesseswithnosharedaccessorfacilitiesshouldbeallowedto

openfirst• 48%ofrespondentsareconcernedaboutkeepingtheirbusinessgoingiflockdown/domestictravel

restrictionsgobeyondAugust• 55%areconcernedabouttheirbusinessgettingthroughthewinterwithlimitedbookings• 42%areconcernedaboutbookingsfor2021• 48%wouldliketheirDMOtobemoreeffectiveatmarketingtheirarea• 72%wanttoopenwhenthetimeisrightastheyareconcernedabouttheircommunity

Comments:

“Scottishgovernmentneedtointroducemasstestingatferry/airportsportsbeforetraveltoislandcommunities.Thisisgoingtoneedtohappeninthelongtermsothesooneritisintroducedthequickerfragileislanddestinationscanrecover.”“ItwillbeimportanttomanagetheexpectationsoflocalcommunitiesthatitisSAFEforpeopletotraveltodifferentareas.Ifthisisnotcommunicatedbythegovernmentinaclearandconciseway,therewillbeproblemsforguestsarrivinginnewlocations,andforoperatorsoftourismbasedbusinesses.”“Thereneedstobeafirmmessagethatwhentravelrestrictionsarelifted,itissafeenoughforpeopletogotoself-cateringcottages.Itisincumbentonus,theoperators,toputappropriatemeasuresinplacetoreducerisk.ScotlandshouldliftrestrictionsacrossthewholeofScotland,notleaveanyremoteruralareasinlockdown.Islandsareisolatedandsufferingenoughwithoutbeingtreateddifferently.Wehavetolearntolivewiththisvirusandadoptthe‘new’normalassoonasitisdeemedsafeenoughtodoso.AstrongmessagefromtheScottishGovernmentwillreducefearinourremotecommunities.”“Ihavenoconcernsaboutvisitorswishingtotravelhere,mostofmybookingsforthesummerhaven’tcancelledyet(soIwillhavetomostlikelyandincurOTApenalties)andIhavereceivedalotofenquiriesfornextyear,Iammostconcernedaboutopeningifthereisstillahostilereceptiontotouristsinthelocalcommunity.Idonotwishandwillnotgoagainsttheswayoflocalopinionbuthowlongwillittaketoswingtowardswelcomingtouristsback,particularlyaswestillhavearelativelylownumberofcasesandafragiledemographicprofile/healthinfrastructurethatmakesussusceptibletoopeningupourtransportlinks.Ithinkthefocusofanymarketingcampaignshouldbetargetedlocally,oncesafetodoso,toreassurethecommunityonthestepsthathavebeentakenandremindthemofthebenefitsofthissector.”“Wecannotcontinuesoaregoingtohavetosellafter15years”“Biggestissueontheislandsislocalanimosityagainstholidayhomeowners,ignoringourvaluetothecommunity….Localauthoritiesmustbeaccountablefortheirpoorserviceinprocessinggrants.Iappliedonthe

1stApril,shouldhavebeenastraightforwardprocessastheydon'tneedanyinformationbutit'snow13thMay&Istillawaitfunds.”“Ihatethedivisivenegativevitrioliccommentsonsocialmediaagainsttouristsandfearitwilldetervisitorsfromcertainareas.”