Scottish tourism industry leaders have welcomed the Scottish Government’s move to allow businesses in the sector to reopen next month.

Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing also announced further measures to support the industry with a new Scottish Recovery Tourism Taskforce to assist with the ongoing “reset” of the sector.

A provisional date of July 15 has been set "for when tourism businesses may be able to resume operations, dependent on public health advice and progression to phase three of the Scottish Government lockdown route map".

The taskforce will look at the sector’s recovery needs as well as actions being taken by the UK Government and the development of a new domestic visitor marketing campaign.

READ MORE: Scotland's tourism industry set to re-open for business on July 15 

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the representative body for tourism businesses in Scotland said the announcement that "the majority of tourism businesses can reopen on 15th July this afternoon marks a hugely positive milestone in our road to recovery in what has been an exceptionally dark few days and indeed weeks for Scotland’s tourism industry".

He said: “The STA has pushed hard for an indicative date to be given to allow accommodation providers, visitor attractions, pubs and restaurants to plan effectively, accept bookings, make arrangements for return of their staff from furlough, conduct training and most importantly ensure that all safety protocols are in place to provide their employees and the public the confidence and reassurance they need to feel safe to return.

“One of the most frequent questions we have been asked is around the publication of guidance for reopening; it will offer huge reassurance to tourism businesses that this will be available in the coming days, giving them a full month to plan ahead to welcome visitors back into businesses across all sectors of our industry.”

He added: “We will remain hopeful that an earlier date for reopening may be given for certain sectors which are more easily placed to do so safely by their nature, for example self-catering, caravan and camping parks and would ask that continued consideration is given to this as we move further out of lockdown.”

Mr Crothall said: “A longer-term support package for the sector will definitely be needed to ensure the survival of many businesses over the coming nine months. Most are reliant on there being an optimum spring, summer and early autumn trading period to cover their costs and fixed overheads in the winter months and recovery projections are still likely to be slow.”

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “This will be welcome news for so many who are reliant on hospitality and tourism for their livelihoods.

"The Scottish Chamber network alone represents over 1,600 businesses in the tourism sector which employ over 46,000 people, underlining how critical it is for jobs and skills that the sector thrives.

"The Scottish Government has listened but for some it is already too late and the challenge ahead remains clear. The sector, which is essential to maintaining the fabric of many areas of Scotland remains fragile. These companies will continue to need support to ensure they can adapt to provide a safe experience for visitors.”

Willie Macleod UKHospitality executive director for Scotland, said: “It’s good to have some clarity from the Scottish Government and a real sense that we are moving towards the reopening of hospitality and tourism businesses.

“Businesses will need ongoing support – many to see them through to the Spring of 2021 – this support includes grants to those with rateable values above £51,000 and any underspend on grants made available thus far must be directed in this way. The proposed recovery task force is a welcome step and there will be a need for radical steps including a substantial reduction in VAT to kick-start the tourism economy.”

Scotland's seabed has been opened up to new wind farm developments for the first time in a decade, in a move which could lead to multi-billion pound investments.

Crown Estate Scotland, which manages the country's seabed, has launched the new round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters, called ScotWind Leasing.

It said total investment in ScotWind Leasing projects could potentially surpass £8 billion and help power the transition to a net zero future.

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Crown Estate Scotland said ScotWind projects could deliver more than enough green electricity to power every Scottish household and that more than six million tonnes of CO2 could be saved each year.

John Robertson, Crown Estate Scotland's head of energy and infrastructure, said: "Today is a huge step forward in kick-starting Scotland's green recovery, meeting net zero targets and bringing multi-billion pound investments to benefit communities across the nation.

"Offshore wind is currently one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation and Scotland is perfectly poised to host major new projects, with a well-established energy skills sector as well as some of the best natural marine resources in Europe."

It is anticipated that ScotWind will significantly increase the amount of power generated from offshore renewables, which could help meet the Scottish Government's target of net zero by 2045.

Paul Wheelhouse, Scotland's Energy Minister, said: "The launch of ScotWind, the first offshore wind leasing round to be administered in Scotland, is a very important milestone for Crown Estate Scotland and Scottish ministers, but also marks another pivotal moment for the development of our offshore wind sector and also presents an opportunity to help develop our strategic economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As we emerge from the crisis, we have a chance to re-imagine the Scotland around us, and to begin building a greener, fairer and more equal society and economy, one in which wellbeing, fair work and social justice are prioritised.
"Our seas are host to some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, supporting the continuing growth and expansion of the sector.

"We want to harness this huge resource for our energy system, unlocking significant investment in the supply chain to create more green jobs across the sector and, importantly, to do so in a way that gives due regard to our marine environment and other marine activities.

"My colleagues and I encourage all interested applicants to get involved in ScotWind, to bring forward projects which will help us drive forward Scotland's green recovery and our transition to becoming a net-zero society by 2045."

From Wednesday investors and developers will be able to register interest in obtaining an "option agreement" with Crown Estate Scotland.

These can then lead to the signing of leases to build offshore wind farms in one of the areas of seabed to be outlined as suitable in the Scottish Government's Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.

RenewableUK welcomed the announcement. Head of policy and regulation Rebecca Williams said: "The opening of ScotWind Leasing marks a significant step forward for the UK's offshore wind sector and for the entire country's green economic recovery after the pandemic.

"It creates multibillion-pound investment opportunities which will last for decades, regenerating coastal communities in Scotland and expanding our wider supply chain which already extends throughout the UK.

"Consumers will benefit too as offshore wind is one of the UK's cheapest sources of new power."

Shareholders in Whitbread have agreed to invest more than £900 million in the Premier Inn owner as part of a major rights issue.

The company said the equity raise will help improve its "financial flexibility" after being forced to shut sites in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

READ MORE: Transparent 'igloos' planned by Scottish hotel for dining in world of social-distancing

Whitbread chief Alison Brittain said the move means that the firm is in "a position of strength to continue to invest, increase market share, support our colleagues and guests and create significant value for shareholders".

Whitbread has 18 open hotels in Germany and 49 open hotels in the UK.

Ms Brittain said it is ready to reopen the rest of its UK hotels as soon as it is given the go-ahead by the Government.

Shares were down 4.9% at 2,524p.