Guernsey Press

Support scheme for hotels to continue until 2022

THE SUPPORT scheme for visitor accommodation businesses in Guernsey and Alderney will continue for another year, Policy & Resources have confirmed.

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Policy & Resources president Deputy Peter Ferbrache. (29273877)

The current scheme was introduced by P&R to run from October 2020 until the end of March this year.

Now, the Bailiwick is beginning its exit from the second lockdown and, while the vaccine programme here and in the UK progresses quickly, it is still unclear as to when the current restrictions will be lifted sufficiently to allow visitors to be welcomed back to the island again.

'To give visitor accommodation businesses the assurance that there will be support going forward, [P&R] has agreed to continue the current scheme for a further year and will only revisit it if there is a real improvement for the sector during that time,' a spokesperson said.

The Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme is bespoke for this sector only and offers support through one of two options, a grant or payroll co-funding.

At the end of March, when the current period of support ends and the next 12-month period begins (and only at that point) eligible businesses can choose to change how they receive their support.

'In other words, if a business has been receiving payroll co-funding through the Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme, and wishes to opt for grant support instead for the next 12 months, they can do so,' the spokesperson clarified.

More detail on the Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme can be found at https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/visitor-accommodation